Reds vs. Cardinals opener is tailor-made for Sal Stewart’s MLB debut

It's now or never, isn't it? If the Cincinnati Reds go into Friday's series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals and if Sal Stewart is not in the starting lineup, it feels like the team has already given up on their dreams of returning to the playoffs.

Thanks to the Miami Marlins, the Reds head into Friday's game against the Cardinals trailing the New York Mets by four games instead of five. The Marlins upended the Mets on Thursday night, and Cincinnati is within striking distance with a little less than a month to go in the regular season.

But the Reds need reinforcements, and there's no better option than the one sitting down at Triple-A Louisville right now. Stewart has been the most consistent bat in the entire Reds organization for the better part of two months, and it's not even close. Furthermore, the pitching matchup on Friday night offers Stewart the perfect setting to make his Major League debut.

Reds vs. Cardinals opener is tailor-made for Sal Stewart’s MLB debut

The Cardinals are sending left-handed pitcher Matthew Liberatore to the mound on Friday night, and he'll be opposed by Reds' right-hander Zach Littell. The Reds have struggled mightily against southpaws this season, but Stewart has absolutely crushed left-handed pitching all season.

On the year, Stewart owns a .316/.424/.561 slash line in 118 at-bats against left-handers. That stat includes time spent at both Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville. In his 32 at-bats against lefties since arriving in Louisville last month, Stewart has hit .344/.476/.719 with three doubles and three home runs. The only player on the entire Reds team who has more round-trippers against left-handers this season is Elly De La Cruz (5).

Stewart was in the Louisville Bats' lineup on Thursday night, leading some Reds fans to believe that he won't be called up on Friday. Stewart has started back-to-back games at second base, however, and that would be the most likely path to playing time in the big leagues this season.

With so much at stake, there's no reason to keep Stewart in the minor leagues any longer. In fact, his promotion could jumpstart the Reds' offense and prove to the players in the clubhouse that the front office sees a path to the postseason.

There's almost no downside to giving Stewart a shot at this point in the season, and his performance — good or bad — could help shape some of the organization's offseason decisions. It's time for Stewart to get the call.

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