Cincinnati Reds: Predicting an expanded 30-man Opening Day roster

Starting lineup (8)

Joey Votto, Eugenio Suárez, Mike Moustakas, Tucker Barnhart, Shogo Akiyama, Nick Castellanos, Freddy Galvis and Jesse Winker

After adding three starters via free agency during the offseason, the Cincinnati Reds have a potent offense heading into the 2020 season. The delayed start to the season will undoubtedly help put Eugenio Suárez back in the Opening Day lineup and the first six batters in the Reds batting order will be a tough out, night in and night out.

Cincinnati spent big this offseason, bringing in Mike Moustakas, Shogo Akiyama and then hitting the trifecta with the addition of Nick Castellanos. Sandwiching those three along with the likes of Suárez, Jesse Winker and Joey Votto will give the Reds a group of six players who can get on base and hit for power.

Freddy Galvis set a career-high in home runs (23) last season and will be the Reds starting shortstop. While a lot of fans wanted Cincinnati to go after a trade for Francisco Lindor, Galvis is an excellent defensive shortstop and brings power to the dish. If Freddy Galvis is the worst hitter among the regulars in your lineup, you’re doing pretty good.

Though we’re likely to see plenty from Curt Casali in 2020, Tucker Barnhart will get the nod more times than not. Switching to being a left-handed hitter exclusively, Barnhart will likely gain the start when a right-hander is on the mound and Casali will hang the signs when the Reds face a southpaw.

Nick Senzel’s absence from the starting lineup is not a lack of faith in last year’s rookie, but rather the reality of his current standing with the team. I expect Senzel to have a big year, but he’ll be a rotational player along with Akiyama and Winker. We’ll talk more in-depth about Senzel a little later.