Previewing 2018 Cincinnati Reds
With the hopes that the Cincinnati Reds could improve on a 68 win 2016 and there were signs of progress, but they finished with the same record. In 2018, with the hopes that the young pitchers will take a big step forward with the help of a strong offense, the Reds could surprise. Here is the 2018 Opening Day roster.
Rotation:
Homer Bailey
Luis Castillo
Sal Romano
Tyler Mahle
Cody Reed
Bailey is the seasoned veteran of the bunch as the rest are a bunch of young guns with high ceilings especially after a strong showing from Castillo and Mahle. This will be the key to the season.
Bullpen:
Raisel Iglesias
Jared Hughes
Wandy Peralta
Amir Garrett
Austin Brice
Kevin Quackenbush
Zack Weiss
Jackson Stephens
This part of the team is a little bit uncertain as Weiss, Brice, Stephens, and Quackenbush are new to the bullpen. Iglesias is a very good closer and Hughes was signed for his high ground ball rate. The bullpen should get deeper once David Hernandez and Michael Lorenzen get back from the disabled list.
Catchers:
Tucker Barnhart
Devin Mesoraco
Barnhart will be taking over the starting role after winning a Gold Glove in 2017. Mesoraco, a 2014 All-Star, will back him up.
Infielders:
Scooter Gennett
Jose Peraza
Phil Gosselin
Cliff Pennington
Eugenio Suarez
Joey Votto
The infield is very good with Suarez being a very underrated player and with Joey Votto who fell just short of an MVP in 2017. The hope is that Peraza keeps developing and Gennett keeps up his production after having a breakout year in 2017.
Outfielders:
Adam Duvall
Billy Hamilton
Jesse Winker
Scott Schebler
Phillip Ervin
The Reds are going with a four man outfield rotation with Duvall, Hamilton, Winker, Schebler in hopes they can have a healthy and productive year as they are essentially all starters in a three-man outfield. Rotation was the only way it would work.
Looking at this team you would see that they are extremely talented, but still very raw. If they want to be good this year, they all need to be clicking on all cylinders as the starting pitching has to be consistent, the bullpen needs to be locked in, and the offense needs to continue their productivity. If that all happens, they could make a run at a Wild Card spot. However, it is likely they will win 75-80 games this year. Unfortunately, they are one year away from being a serious contender and they play in a deep division.
