03-24-2024 MLB Preview - Flipbook - Page 38
MLB ’24 NL CENTRAL PREVIEW CINCINNATI REDS
Sunday, March 24, 2024 38
2023: 82-80, third place | Manager: David Bell (sixth season) | Opening Day: March 28 vs. Washington
OVERVIEW
TOP HITTERS
OF/1B Spencer Steer (.271, 23 HRs, 86 RBIs, .820
OPS), CF TJ Friedl (.279, 18, 66, .819 OPS), 2B
Jonathan India (.244, 17, 61, .745 OPS), C Tyler
Stephenson (.243, 13, 56, .695 OPS).
PROJECTED ROTATION
RH Hunter Greene (4-7, 4.82 ERA), RH Frankie
Montas (1-0, 0.00 with Yankees after missing
most of season following shoulder surgery), RH
Graham Ashcraft (7-9, 4.76), LH Andrew Abbott
(8-8, 4.50), LH Nick Lodolo (2-1, 6.29; missed
most of season after left tibia surgery).
KEY RELIEVERS
RH Alexis Díaz (9-6, 3.07 ERA, 37 saves, 86 Ks in
67 ⅓ IP), RH Emilio Pagán (5-2, 2.99, 1 save with
Twins), LH Brent Suter (4-3, 3.38 with Rockies),
RH Nick Martinez (6-4, 3.43 with Padres).
ONE TO WATCH
INF Matt McLain
(.290, 16, 50, .864 OPS
in 89 games)
OUTLOOK
The rising Reds were written off by most last
season, but an influx of exciting young rookies turned things around. They were back in
contention in the NL Central and finished two
games over .500 after losing 100 games in
2022. Bell has the happy dilemma of figuring
out how to fit all the talented pieces together,
including Steer, Matt McLain and blazing-fast
infielder Elly De La Cruz. The Reds went out and
got Montas, Pagán, Suter and Martinez to bolster a pitching staff decimated by injuries and
overwork last season. One major change will be
the absence of Joey Votto in Cincinnati for the
first time since 2006 after the team declined
to exercise his contract option. He became a
free agent, and Toronto signed the 40-year-old
longtime slugger to a minor league contract.
— Associated Press
ROSS D.
FRANKLIN/
AP
HE’S HERE
3B Jeimer Candelario, RHP Frankie Montas (left), RHP Nick Martinez, LHP Brent Suter, RHP Emilio Pagán,
INF/OF Josh Harrison.
HE’S OUTTA HERE
1B Joey Votto, 3B/OF Nick Senzel, INF Matt Reynolds, RHP Ben Lively, OF Henry Ramos, OF T.J. Hopkins, C Curt Casali.
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