Preview/Prediction Thread - Cingrani's SP Debut

Tonight, 7:10 Eastern, the Miami Marlins visit Great American to take on the Reds for the first of a three-game series. José Fernandez takes the hill for the Marlins, making the 3rd MLB start of his blossoming career. Fernandez had blistering minor league performances in the low-minors, and is a top-shelf prospect who generally wasn't expected to make the Majors this early. But he has dispelled any doubts about his readiness with a couple high quality performances so far. The 20-year-old phenom has a very bright looking future.

Toeing the rubber for the Reds is fellow prospect Tony Cingrani. Scouts haven't been in love with his outlook as an MLB starter, but he has been purely dominant in the minors at every level. Cincinnati fans (if they're anything like me and most RRers) are very excited to see what Cingrani can do with the opportunity that Cueto's injury has provided him to start in the Big Leagues.

The Reds bats really came alive in the last game of the series against the Phillies, scoring 11 runs. Fernandez is a far more imposing pitcher than John Lannan, but let's hope the feast or famine pattern of the offense is in a feast cycle, or at least evens itself out to provide semi-consistent scoring to back the pitchers. For the Marlins, Giancarlo Stanton is returning to the lineup, but since no one in their right mind would bother pitching to him, it shouldn't matter super much. The Marlins do lead the Majors in fewest strikeouts, so it will be interesting to see what happens when they meet up with Cingrani's 16+ K/9 (at AAA).

Arroyo, Bailey, and Leake really combined some masterful starting performances against the Phillies, going 8, 8 and 7 innings to give the bullpen a much needed break. I imagine anyone and everyone from the pen will be available to pitch if needed, unless Lecure is still feeling subpar.