In terms of ‘what’s left to look forward to’ for the 2018 Cincinnati Reds, Anthony DeSclafani might well be the single most prominent beacon. Sure, we’ll still probably see Nick Senzel at some point in the sorta-kinda near future, but it’s clear at this point that the Cincinnati Reds are going to ease him into this particular season in more of a cup of coffee arrangement than in the ‘two weeks into April’ sort of way we’d hoped for back in March.
DeSclafani, though, is finally back and healthy, and will take the mound today in his second start since returning from the oblique injury that cost him two months of the season. And given that the 2019 season will already bee his second to last under team control, finding out if he can be anything close to the dependable, top-of-the-rotation starter we’ve pined for should provoke more fingers crossed than not. Heck, he’s only got one more year of team control than Scooter Gennett, who’s had his name kicked around as a major trade piece largely because the Reds won’t be good enough to contend while he’s under team control, anyway.
Man, year five of watching awful baseball and year whatever-it-is of rebuilding has really put a dent in my baseball psyche.
The Reds will be tasked with beating the Cardinals for the first time since the Eisenhower Administration by going through ace Carlos Martinez today, so that should be interesting.
First pitch is set for 1:10 PM ET.
Cincinnati Lineup
Today's lineup as the #Reds and Cardinals wrap up the series. ➡️ https://t.co/BQECw8RqoO pic.twitter.com/sNF1BXd5PE
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) June 10, 2018
St. Louis Lineup
Today's #STLCards lineup (6/10)
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) June 10, 2018
Carpenter 3B
Pham CF
J. Martínez 1B
Ozuna LF
Molina C
Garcia SS
Bader RF
Wong 2B
C. Martínez P
Other Notes
- Alex Blandino has started just 10 games in the last 40 days, and just 3 times since May 22nd. Either play him, or option him, Reds. You’re freaking 22-43, and punting a year of development of a 1st round draftee is just silly.
- I’m beginning to hope the All Star break is actually three weeks long this year.
- Go Reds. Show something, anything.