Reds schedule: Will the hits keep on coming in Motown vs Tigers?

Moose and Senzel are vital to the offense

It’s amazing what the Reds lineup looks like when second baseman Mike Moustakas and centerfielder Nick Senzel are absent. In the three games, the pair have played the Redlegs have scored 23 runs. When those two missed three consecutive games, the Reds crossed the plate just 14 times. A coincidence? I think not.

Moustakas has already belted two homers in just 10 at-bats and has six ribbies in just three games. He gives the Reds a legitimate power threat from the left side of the plate. Among everything else, he seems to be a natural leader.

Moose has appeared in the postseason four times in his career and won a ring with the 2015 Kansas City Royals. His experience will go a long way in helping the Reds franchise achieve their postseason goals.

Although, Nick Senzel has not had quite the start that Moustakas has enjoyed, there’s plenty to like in the early-going of this second season. In his last start, Senzel went 2-for-4 with a double and a home run. Both base knocks were hit with authority.

Another encouraging sign is he’s only struck out once in 11 at-bats. During his rookie season, Senzel struck out in 24.4% of his at-bats. If he had enough at-bats to qualify, that rate would have placed him in the Top 15 in the National League for K% for hitters.

Senzel’s struggles at the plate have been well documented after attempting to alter this swing during the second half of last year. The early 2020 returns seem to indicate he’s back in his comfort zone and seeing the ball well.

Prediction

Obviously, the Blog Red Machine crystal ball was a little hazy after being pulled from the closet for the first time in 2020 when the Reds and Tigers met last weekend. However, things are much more clear as we enter the second week of the season. It’s telling me the Reds will tame the Tigers and leave the Motor City with two games in the victory column.

A 2-1 series win would put the Reds back on track after a shaky 2-4 start to begin the 2020 season. While a 4-5 record isn’t what Reds Country was hoping for in the early-going, it would keep postseason hopes alive and prevent Cincinnati from falling out of contention.