Cincinnati Reds at Arizona Diamondbacks – May 14, 2024

Cincinnati Reds at Arizona Diamondbacks – May 14, 2024 – Total heartbreaker last night. Ford smacks a triple to take the lead, we get no insurance runs, and Diaz can’t throw a strike. Not to mention the balls and strikes were incredibly inconsistent. Cincinnati’s lineup has a lot to digest today.

RHP Hunter Greene

Greene comes into this matchup off of a no decision last week in which he gave up 3 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks. He’ll face the same guy – Slade Cecconi. In fact, he’ll face the exact same lineup outside of the SS and 2B. Greene’s advanced metrics show one of baseball’s best fastballers. A truly top shelf pitcher that needs to cut down on walks and induce slightly more weak contact. But then you look at the results from his secondary pitches and you see why he throws the fastball so much. Greene is in the 90th or better percentile in xERA, xBA, Fastball Velo, and Fastball Run Value. He’s in the 75th to 90th percentile in Average Exit Velocity, Whiff %, K %, Barrel %, Hard Hit %, and Pitching Run Value. Keep in mind, 50th percentile is average – he only falls below that in GB %, Breaking Run Value, and Offspeed Run Value. Like I said – a fastballer. I have no issues with Greene – I think he’s a great #2. Let’s have some faith in the guy to give us yet another chance in this ballgame.

Reds Lineups Card

A true debut for Hurtubise. Capel will get at least his second AB of the season. Willy leading off? Hopefully it’s just an off day for Steer. This lineup just opens up so many questions.

With Friedl out for the foreseeable future, I would be leading off India every night. He seems to find his best bat on the nights he leads off. Will Benson is in a major slump – only .221 vs RHP which is supposed to be his specialty. India is better at .227 against RHP. Not much, but his splits are not drastic. I know Steer deserves a day off, but this lineup is brutal without him. A young pitcher again may make this lineup playable, but they have not broken through when you would expect them to all season. Look for Greene to keep it close and this one to come down to whether or not Elly De La Cruz can produce.

On another note, a strong case is being made for Cruz to move into the closer role if Diaz blows one or two more. Cruz has been nasty this year outside of one (maybe two) bad outings.

RHP Slade Cecconi

Not much to add to the last preview where we detailed him. Go check that out here.

Diamondbacks Lineup Card

Greene dodged 2B Ketel Marte tonight. Not much else is different besides Barnhart getting the nod behind the plate and Jake McCarthy back in the lineup over Pavin Smith. Hunter has the stuff to dominate this lineup. He’ll have to watch out for Pederson though.