Cincinnati Reds: Predicting the Opening Day roster 2.0

Let’s try to predict the Reds 2021 Opening Day roster.

We’re two weeks from Opening Day and the outlook for the Cincinnati Reds roster may be more blurred than ever. In a surprising twist this week, David Bell decided to insert Eugenio Suárez as the team’s starting shortstop during Tuesday’s exhibition game versus the Colorado Rockies. How will injuries and Suárez’s position change affect the 26-man roster?

Though not entirely permanent, having the ability to deploy Suárez at shortstop gives Bell the opportunity to put his eight best hitters in the lineup. In addition to Suárez moving to shortstop, Bell shifted Mike Moustakas to the hot corner, a position the veteran has manned for years. That resulted in Jonathan India getting the start at second base. Is this a preview of things to come?

While it’s certainly possible, the absence of Joey Votto on Opening Day could greatly affect the Reds lineup. The six-time All-Star and former MVP is currently on the injured list after testing positive for COVID-19. Votto could return before Opening Day, but the possibility exists that Moustakas could see more time at first base rather than third base during the early stages of 2021.

Votto isn’t the only Reds player absent from the lineup. Shogo Akiyama will start the 2021 season on the IL, and Sonny Gray may as well. Tejay Antone left his last appearance and is currently day-to-day. Wade Miley suffered a hamstring injury earlier this spring, but made his last start. Lucas Sims and Amir Garrett have yet to appear this spring, but appear to be on their way back.

The Cincinnati Reds Opening Day lineup looks to be very fluid. The starting rotation has yet to be determined and the shortstop position is still a question mark. Let’s take a stab at what the 26-man roster will look like on April 1st.

Reds starting rotation (5)

Luis Castillo, Tyler Mahle, Wade Miley, Michael Lorenzen, Tejay Antone

Three of these five pitchers are virtual locks to be part of the starting rotation. David Bell will likely run out Luis Castillo on April 1st versus the St. Louis Cardinals. This will be Castillo’s second Opening Day start in the last three years. Sonny Gray, if he were healthy, would undoubtedly be part of the five-man rotation.

Following Castillo is likely to be Tyler Mahle. Last year, Mahle solidified his standing with the Reds organization. An injury to Anthony DeSclafani gave Mahle the opening he needed and the right-hander didn’t look back. Mahle has the potential to be a key cog in the middle of the Cincinnati rotation this season.

Miley will be part of the starting rotation, though there are better options within the organization. Miley gives Bell a left-handed, veteran presence on the mound. However, if last season was any indication of what we’re likely to see from the southpaw, Miley could lose his spot in the rotation by July.

Michael Lorenzen has been a reliever for the past few seasons, but the Reds are going to see if the athletic right-hander can handle the rigors of the starting rotation. Lorenzen is another player who may fall out of the rotation by midseason if he fails to produce.

Finally, look for Cincinnati to turn to Tejay Antone as the team’s No. 5 starter out of camp. Provided he’s healthy, Antone could join the rotation and be an above-average starter in the backend of the Reds rotation. Antone has the potential to be one of the stars of this team heading into the future.

Reds starting lineup (8)

Mike Moustakas, Joey Votto, Eugenio Suárez, Tucker Barnhart, Nick Senzel, Jesse Winker, Nick Castellanos, Jonathan India

I’m being optimistic here, but I believe Joey Votto will be the starting first baseman for the Cincinnati Reds on Opening Day. Votto has been sidelined since testing positive fro COVID-19, but should he be free of symptoms, the six-time All-Star would have cleared Major League Baseball’s protocols for returning to the field by April 1st.

While he’s had two errors in as many games, putting Eugenio Suárez at shortstop gives the Cincinnati Reds their best offensive lineup. Moving Mike Moustakas to third base and inserting Jonathan India at second base gives Cincinnati a potent set of bats in the starting lineup.

With Shogo Akiyama on the injured list, Cincinnati’s starting centerfielder on Opening Day will be Nick Senzel. This is as close to a make-or-break season for the 25-year-old, as he’ll try to put his injury history behind him and focus on being a key piece of the lineup night in and night out.

Jesse Winker and Nick Castellanos will occupy the corner outfield positions. Both players are not well known for their defense, but they’ll let their bats do the talking. Castellanos has quietly had a phenomenal spring in Goodyear.

Finally, look for Tucker Barnhart to start the season behind the plate for the Reds. He may not end the season as the starting backstop in Cincinnati however, as young rookie Tyler Stephenson is looking to cement his place among the regulars on this year’s team.

Reds reserves (5)

Tyler Stephenson, Aristides Aquino, Mike Freeman, Kyle Farmer, Dee Strange-Gordon

Here’s where things start to get interesting, and where Eugenio Suárez’s place on the field dictates some of the utility roles on the Reds bench. Tyler Stephenson is the Reds backup catcher and will see plenty of starts versus left-handed pitchers. The remaining four spots are anyone’s guess.

Kyle Farmer will go from starting shortstop to the team’s top utility infielder. Farmer has the ability to play every single position on the infield dirt, including catcher. Farmer could fill in for Joey Votto at first base if the former MVP is out to begin the season, but he could find his way back into the starting lineup at shortstop if the Suárez at shortstop experiment goes awry.

Aristides Aquino is still looking to find consistent at-bats in the big leagues, and Shogo Akiyama’s absence may provide that. The Punisher has been inconsistent since he burst onto the scene in August of 2019, but a couple starts per week could do great things for Aquino’s confidence. There’s plenty of pop in that bat.

The Reds recently traded for Mike Freeman. I believe if Max Schrock is unable to return from injury before Opening Day, Freeman will grab a spot on this year’s team. Finally, Dee Strange-Gordon is likely to make the cut. While he was brought to Cincinnati this season as an infielder, the veteran has experience in the outfield and could serve a dual role until Akiyama returns to the lineup.