Reds: Predicting lineup-altering shakeup in the coming days

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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – JULY 11: Nick Castellanos #2 of the Cincinnati Reds up to bat. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) /

The Cincinnati Reds are riding high, and their confidence may be increasing in the coming days depending on how quickly their injured stars return from the IL. Mike Moustakas, Nick Senzel, Lucas Sims, and Nick Castellanos will soon return to the Reds lineup.

We’ve already gone out on a limb an made some predictions about who stays and who goes once Cincinnati’s roster looks more like it did on Opening Day. Tejay Antone is another name to watch in the coming days, but his return is more likely to come a few weeks from now rather than a few days from now.

There’s a chance that Castellanos returns to the Reds’ lineup tonight. The Cincinnati slugger was in the running for the NL MVP, and that may still be the case if Castellanos can pick up where he left off once he rejoins the active roster. So, how will the return of some of the Reds’ brightest stars impact the team and alter the lineup?

1. Nick Castellanos will take his rightful place as the Reds’ right fielder.

No more Aristides Aquino or Tyler Naquin in right field. While the duo has done a fine job picking up the slack while Nick Castellanos has been nursing a microfracture in his wrist, once the All-Star returns to the team, you can bet your bottom dollar that he’ll be in right field every game.

Aquino will return to his role as a right-handed bench bat and defensive replacement while Naquin will likely shift back to center field. Naquin has played up the middle routinely since Nick Senzel went on the IL and has shared time at the position with Shogo Akiyama over the last few weeks.

Castellanos is currently first in batting average, second in doubles, third in slugging percentage, and fourth in OPS. Despite missing over two weeks of action, the possibility exists for Castellanos to win the NL MVP. Once he’s cleared to play, look for Nick Castellanos to be in the everyday lineup as the team’s right fielder.

CINCINNATI, OHIO – APRIL 05: Nick Senzel #15 of the Cincinnati Reds waits for the ball. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

2. Nick Senzel will supplant Tyler Naquin as the Reds’ everyday centerfielder.

While it has been mentioned by David Bell that Nick Senzel may see some time at shortstop upon his return, Kyle Farmer’s play of late should squash any thought of that happening. It’s not that Senzel can’t play the position, but the stellar play of Farmer lately has proven that the former backstop can be the team’s everyday shortstop.

Instead, Senzel should return to center field on a regular basis. In fact, that’s where Senzel has played during every game of his recent rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville. We may see Bell platoon the duo of Nick Senzel and Tyler Naquin in center field, but Naquin’s recent struggles could land the former Indians’ outfielder on the bench.

After a red-hot start to the 2021 season, over his last 30 games, Naquin has hit just .218/.275/.307 with only one home run and 11 RBIs. On the season, Senzel was hitting .252/.328/.315 prior to his injury.

Senzel showed some promise as an infielder prior to his injury, as the former first-round pick saw time at the familiar third base and also took some reps at second base. Senzel was actually manning the keystone on the night Wade Miley threw a no-hitter.

Senzel’s overall value to the team is that of a super-utility player who can play all over the diamond, much in the same way Whit Merrifield and Kris Bryant are deployed. At the end of the day, if Nick Senzel can just make it until the end of the season without another trip to the IL, I’ll be happy. Staying on the field has been Senzel’s greatest challenge since arriving in the big leagues.

PITTSBURGH, PA – MAY 12: Mike Moustakas #9 of the Cincinnati Reds celebrates his solo home run with Eugenio Suarez #7 during the second inning. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

3. Mike Moustakas and Eugenio Suarez split time as the Reds’ third baseman.

Mike Moustakas has been gone from the Cincinnati Reds’ lineup for what feels like forever. The veteran infielder has been dealing with a heel injury since mid-May and finally appears ready to make a comeback. Along with Nick Senzel, Moose has been on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville since last Friday.

Jonathan India just took home the Rookie of the Month trophy for his performance during the month of the July, and there’s not a hotter hitter in the league that future Hall of Famer Joey Votto. Moustakas is capable of playing both first and second base, but there’s no way that David Bell is sitting either India or Votto.

However, one player who’s struggled all season has been third baseman Eugenio Suarez. Geno is one of the easiest players in the league to root for. His smile and positive attitude are contagious, and he’s a leader on this Reds team.

However, Geno is hitting a measly .174 on the season. Though Suarez has 20 home runs and 57 RBIs, his .625 OPS is the lowest of his career. Suarez did spend some time at shortstop earlier this season, but Kyle Farmer’s recent play should eliminate any thought of anything other than a spot start from Suarez at shortstop.

While I’d stop short of saying that David Bell should platoon Suarez and Moustakas, that may well be what the Reds’ skipper has to do. We may not see a platoon based on lefty/ righty matchups, but rather career numbers versus certain pitchers.

Next. India should be leading NL ROY conversation

Juggling the duo of Mike Moustakas and Eugenio Suarez will easily be David Bell’s biggest challenge. Every other infielder is irreplaceable right now, so platooning the pair of third basemen appears to be Bell’s only option. Collectively, those two players are taking home about $26M this season.

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