Cincinnati Reds probable pitchers & starting lineup vs. Tampa Bay Rays, April 18

Cincinnati Reds probable pitchers & starting lineup vs. Tampa Bay Rays, April 18

1. Probable starting pitchers
2. Cincinnati Reds starting lineup
3. Which Cincinnati Reds player needs to bounce back in tonight's game?
4. Which Cincinnati Reds player will be the X-factor in tonight's game?

Probable starting pitchers

Nick Lodolo will head to the hill tonight for the Cincinnati Reds. The left-hander has been spectacular through his first three starts of the season and has posted a sparkling 2.12 ERA. Lodolo has 27 strikeouts in 17 innings of work.

The southpaw was not as crisp during his last outing, but Lodolo was still able to to go five innings and record six strikeouts. This bullpen has been taxed of late and David Bell needs his starter to go at least six innings on Tuesday night.

The Tampa Bay Rays have suddenly lost three of four games and no longer look like world-beaters. Kevin Cash will send rookie hurler Taj Bradley to the mound tonight in hopes that the 22-year-old can stop the bleeding.

Cincinnati Reds starting lineup

The Cincinnati Reds are riding their hot bats into Tuesday's matchup with the Tampa Bay Rays. Jonathan India will bat leadoff and play second base. TJ Friedl and Jake "The Rake" Fraley will follow. Batting cleanup will be Tyler Stephenson. Wil Myers will bat fifth and play right field.

Batting sixth was last night's hero, Kevin Newman. He'll be followed by Jason Vosler and Nick Senzel. Curt Casali will be hanging the signs for Nick Lodolo and batting ninth.

Which Cincinnati Reds player needs to bounce back in tonight's game?

So many things went right for the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night that it's rather difficult to find a player in need of a bounce-back performance. But Wil Myers did have three strikeouts in four at-bats last night. The Reds could certainly use more productivity from the No. 3 hitter in the lineup.

On the plus side, Myers did play some good defense while filling in at first base on Monday night. With Joey Votto out of the lineup, the combination of Myers at first while Jake Fraley, TJ Friedl, and Stuart Fairchild man the outfield grass might be Cincinnati's best defensive alignment.

Which Cincinnati Reds player will be the X-factor in tonight's game?

Jake Fraley made a spectacular catch during Monday's win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Charging in from right field, Fraley made a head-over-heels snag that easily saved two runs and preserved the Cincinnati Reds shutout for the moment.

Fraley is back in the lineup tonight and batting third. Look for the 1-2 punch of Jonathan India and TJ Friedl to reach base against the rookie Taj Bradley, allowing the sweet left-handed swing of Jake Fraley to drive in some runs.