Cincinnati Reds: Jesse Winker and Phillip Ervin platoon will spur success

As the Cincinnati Reds begin to turn their sights towards the 2020 season they have the potential to field an explosive bat in the lineup every day in left field with Jesse Winker and Phillip Ervin.

Forget for a moment the term “everyday player” or that “platoon” is a dirty word. Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell has the possibility of having one of the most productive left fields in the league from an offensive standpoint next year. It just so happens the position will be filled by two players.

Reds left fielders are slashing .277/.354./.458 with 24 homers thus far in the 2019 campaign. The collective .354 OBP ranks 4th in National League among team production from the left field position. The 2019 season has seen Phillip Ervin, Jesse Winker, Matt Kemp, Josh VanMeter, Derek Dietrich, José Peraza and even Michael Lorenzen play left field for the Reds.

While no one is going to make the argument that Winker, who’s played 72 games in left, or Ervin, who’s seen 38 games at the position, are among the top left fielders on the senior circuit, when their strengths are leveraged against the opponents weaknesses you have the makings of a lethal combination.

The left-handed hitting Winker has struggled to hit southpaws in his young career. In 43 at-bats against lefties this season, Winker is hitting a paltry .143 without an extra base hit. His career numbers are not much better. Hitting just .176 with five extra bats in 125 at-bats, the Reds are doing a disservice to the club and Winker by having him face left-handers.

What Jesse Winker does do well is thumping right-handed pitching. This year against righties, Da Wink is slashing .285/.368/.519 with 16 round trippers. Winker, who typically hits lead off against right-handers, is slashing .303/.387/.559 with 9 home runs at the top of the order. No one is going to confuse Winker with Rickey Henderson, but those numbers are sensational for a leadoff hitter.

Where Jesse Winker struggles is where Phillip Ervin thrives. The right-handed hitting Ervin is simply abusing southpaws this season. Slashing a ridiculous .449/.509/.837 with 10 extra base hits in 49 at-bats, Mr. Magic sees left-handers in his dreams. Ervin also provides a speed element that Winker simply doesn’t possess. For his career Ervin has swiped 13 bases in 17 attempts.

For all intents and purposes, Winker is the “everyday” left fielder. The Reds National League Central Division rivals have only five southpaw starters among the four other teams. However, when the Reds face a Jon Lester or Jose Quintana, they can counter with Ervin giving the Cincinnati Reds a decisive advantage.

Reds Country will do themselves favors by not being concerned about traditional labels when it comes to the everyday lineup. Having a 1-2 punch of Jesse Winker and Phillip Ervin is a tremendous luxury and may just provide some of the best numbers in the league from the left field position during the 2020 season.