The Cincinnati Reds play the Washington Nationals in their season opener on Thursday, pitting one team with championship hopes against another aiming to continue its rebuild.
The Reds missed the playoffs by two games and finished 82-80 in 2023, a 20-win improvement over their only second 100-loss season in franchise history in 2022.
Cincinnati made a number of acquisitions in the summer, hoping to make the next big step and supplement the young, talented core of players who made their debuts in 2023.
The Reds signed veteran free agent infielder Jeimer Candelario to a three-year, $45 million contract, right-handed starter Frankie Montas to a one-year, $16 million agreement, and right-handed swingman Nick Martinez to a two-year, $26 million contract, as well as relievers Emilio Pagan and Brent Suter.
Candelario is expected to see even more playing time than previously anticipated after top third base prospect Noelvi Marte was suspended for the first 80 games for violating MLB’s performance enhancement drug policy.
Montas will have the opportunity to make a quick impression after beating out Hunter Greene for the Opening Day assignment. Montas went 1-2 with a 5.94 ERA in five spring outings.
Montas, who placed sixth in Cy Young voting with Oakland in 2021, appeared in only one game with the New York Yankees in 2023 following right shoulder surgery in February.
“People have seen that when I’m fully healthy what I can do,” Montas said in a statement. “I know people are probably thinking, ‘Is this the Frankie from a few years ago?'” Is this the Oakland Frankie? To be honest, I understand what I can do. I believe in myself. And I know that if I get the ball every five days and stay healthy, I can give this team a great opportunity.”
In addition to Marte’s suspension, the Reds have dealt with a number of injuries during spring training, including a fractured wrist that will keep starting center fielder TJ Friedl out until at least mid-May and a left shoulder injury that will cause second baseman Matt McLain to miss the start of the season.
“We’ll face more challenges, but a lot has happened in the last seven or ten days,” Reds boss David Bell remarked. “We’re going to miss each of those guys, individually and as a team. It’s been really a reminder of how together this team is and to see how they responded, and — there was a letdown, there’s no question — but they came back around.”
In 2023, the Washington Nationals finished last in the National League East with a 71-91 record.
The Nationals will send former Reds prospect Josiah Gray to the mound. The right-hander was an All-Star last season while going 8-13 in 30 starts in 2023, with a 3.91 ERA, best among all regular starters in the rotation.
Gray faced the Reds once last season, giving up eight hits, five runs (three earned), and two home runs in a 9-2 Cincinnati victory on July 5.
Another familiar face will return to Cincinnati as veteran outfielder Jesse Winker made the Washington roster after receiving a minor league invite to spring training. Winker played for Seattle in 2022 and Milwaukee last season.
The Nationals have kept veteran right-hander Matt Barnes as the key cog in their rebuilt bullpen, which also includes Robert Garcia, Kyle Finnegan, Hunter Harvey, Tanner Rainey, Jordan Weems, Dylan Floro and Derek Law.
“We have so many qualified guys who can pitch in the bullpen,” Washington skipper Dave Martinez said. “These guys have done well in camp. We feel like we’re in a really good spot. We also feel like our depth right now is really, really good. So we’re really pleased about that.”
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