It has been quite the administrative few days for the Cincinnati Reds.
Fresh off a weekend that saw them need to place both Graham Ashcraft and Pierce Johnson on the injured list, the Reds were forced to place star Elly De La Cruz on there due to hamstring issues earlier on Monday. Kyle Nicolas was designated for assignment to free up a 40-man roster spot for Lyon Richardson, while Yunior Marte went from having his contract selected on Saturday to being DFA’d himself for Brandon Liebrandt on Monday.
In the midst of it all, top prospect Edwin Arroyo was recalled, and he’ll make his debut for the Reds on Monday as they take on the Kansas City Royals.
With all that roster shuffling going on, it was at least refreshing to know the Reds would be able to hand the ball to ace Chase Burns on Monday amid their pitching staff’s injury crisis. However, word broke Monday afternoon that Burns is apparently battling an illness, and he’s been scratched for the day with Richardson – who has worked multiple innings in appearances often with AAA Louisville over the last month – being tasked with the start in GABP in his stead.
Got all that?
It will be a bullpen day with a patchwork infield in the series opener, as the Reds will roll out different players in all four infield positions from those they used in their starting lineup on Opening Day. Matt McLain is sliding over to play short in Elly’s stead, Arroyo will start at 2B, Nate Lowe is in the lineup at 1B for the day, and Sal Stewart will slide over and start at 3B as Eugenio Suarez serves as DH (and with Ke’Bryan Hayes on the shelf indefinitely).
First pitch is set for 7:10 PM ET, and the full lineup for the start is listed below.
