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It wasn’t too, too long ago that the Texas Rangers had interesting in Cincinnati Reds starter Anthony DeSclafani. There was a time when he was healthy and rather dominant, and every team in the game should’ve had interest in the righty. Back in 2016, he overcame the oblique injury that sapped his spring, and around the July trade deadline the then playoff-bound Rangers were on the lookout for a rotation boost.
Of course, no deal was made, and since then the Reds were force to look on as Disco missed the entire 2017 season with elbow issues. Now, I’m not about to say that a Cactus League start in 2018 is Disco’s lone chance to prove that keeping him in Cincinnati was the right decision, but his start against the Rangers this Friday night under the lights is the next step in him getting back to pitching at an elite level, the level at which the Reds surely hope he’ll ascend to healthily again this year.
Backing Disco as available pitchers tonight will be Tyler Mahle, Jimmy Herget, Cody Reed, and Oliver Perez, among others. As for the starting lineup, well, aside from Ben Revere getting run at DH while pitchers are yet to take swings, I think you can certainly look at how the Reds are assembled tonight and say to yourselves ‘yeah, that’s how Bryan Price wants to run them out there on Opening Day.’
First pitch is set for 8:05 PM ET, and while it’d be fun to watch the Reds play at night, there’s no TV feed again for this one.
Cincinnati Lineup
For the first time this spring, the Reds and Rangers play under the lights at @GoodyearBP. #RedsST ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/I1xWi60Wgd
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) March 9, 2018
Texas Lineup
Fri. vs. CIN at Goodyear: DeShields 8, Choo DH, Profar 6, Rua 9, Plouffe 3, Chirinos 2, Robinson 7, Alberto 5, Barney 4, Bush 1. First night game of the spring for the Rangers.
— John Blake (@RangerBlake) March 9, 2018
Other Notes
- Scott Schebler has been on a tear offensively of late. As MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon noted earlier, it sounds like he’s ready for the chance to shine defensively, too - especially in CF on days when the OF rotation has Billy Hamilton on the bench.
- Former Fearless Leader Joel Luckhaupt is providing some great analysis for The Athletic of late, and today looked closer at that very OF rotation. Give it a read.
- Lefty Joe Mantiply had Tommy John surgery today, as The Enquirer’s John Fay reported. He was in camp as a non-roster invitee, similar to lefties Oliver Perez and Kyle Crockett. If the Reds truly are intent on carrying a second lefty in the ‘pen, that certainly thins the competition.