Cincinnati Reds: Nick Senzel has been enjoying some home cooking

David Bell can shuffle the Cincinnati Reds’ batting order however he’d like, provided Nick Senzel is in the lineup when the team plays at home.

Maybe it’s the smell of Skyline Chili. Perhaps it’s hitter-friendly dimensions of Great American Ball Bark. Maybe he just likes sleeping in his own bed. Whatever it is, Nick Senzel is at his best when the Cincinnati Reds play at home.

Since his call up to the big leagues, Nick Senzel has started every game in center field for the Cincinnati Reds. In 15 games thus far, the Reds’ rookie is batting .238 with a .314 on-base percentage, 3 home runs, and 7 RBIs.

While Senzel’s numbers don’t jump off the page, no one on this Cincinnati Reds’ squad is lighting the world on fire. As a team, the Reds rank last in the National League with a .217 batting average. The team’s on-base percentage is a bit more promising at .290, ranking the Reds ahead of the San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres, and the paltry Miami Marlins.

Nick Senzel has boosted his stats over the past 5 games. During that stretch, he’s hitting .250 with a .318 OBP and has reached base safely in his last 5 games. Coincidently, those last 5 games have all been played at home.

In 9 games at home this season, Nick Senzel is slashing .243/.349/.486 with 3 home runs, 3 RBIs, and 6 walks. In the 6 games Senzel has played on the road, Senzel is just 6-for-26 (.231) with a .259 on-base percentage and 8 strikeouts. At home, Senzel’s OPS+ is 124 and a staggering 61 points lower (63) on the road.

Senzel has shown a solid approach at the plate, but in the leadoff spot, the Cincinnati Reds need Senzel to get on base more consistently. To be fair, no one in the Reds’ lineup, other than Jose Iglesias and Eugenio Suarez have much to write home about so far this season.

The Cincinnati Reds wrap up their home stand today against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Senzel is in the leadoff spot again and will face a tough task in left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu. Senzel, however, has had success against lefties this season with a .286 batting average.

Cincinnati heads out on the road next week with a trip to Milwaukee and Chicago on the docket. The Reds will play a short series against the Brewers before heading south to play a weekend series against the Cubs. Hopefully, Senzel’s bat finds Miller Park and Wrigley Field as friendly as it has Great American Ball Park.