You are still singularly focused on Cincinnati Reds baseball, and for that I applaud you (to a degree).
They’ve lost key player after key player to injuries. They’ve nosedived from first place to dead last in the National League Central. They’ve found ways to lose that will make you absolutely rip out every hair on your head that you haven’t ripped out while watching them over previous years.
Yet here you are, loyal Reds fan. Here you are reading about a Saturday afternoon game between the Reds and
the Arizona Diamondbacks that’s taking place during the first weekend of the world’s biggest sporting event.
That’s fandom.
The Reds, to their limited credit, appear to have shaken the lineup a little bit after last night’s frustration. Not anything super serious – there were no promotions or demotions – just a handful of tinkers that manager Terry Francona surely hopes can light a fire under this underperforming group.
Edwin Arroyo will hit leadoff tonight and play shortstop, as Matt McLain – who’s still hitting 9th – swaps over to 2B for the game. Noelvi Marte, who homered last night, will get a start in CF this afernoon. Spencer Steer will slide out to RF, and Blake Dunn will start on the pine tonight after last night’s unbelievably forgettable 9th inning.
All that will be behind Rhett Lowder, who’ll start having allowed 13 BB and 11 ER across 7.1 IP over his last three starts combined. Woof!
First pitch is set for 4:10 PM ET, and it’s back on Reds.tv after Friday’s Apple TV coverage.
Here’s how the Reds will line up to start:
