Tampa Bay Rays vs Cincinnati Reds – April 17, 2023

The Cincinnati Reds welcome in the best team in baseball this week. The Tampa Bay Rays are 14-2 and have outscored their opponents 114-42 this season. They are allowing just 2.63 runs per game. Cincinnati will be looking to rebound from their embarrassing loss on Sunday, while Tampa Bay is looking to start a new winning streak after dropping their first series of the season but avoiding the sweep in Toronto with a win on Sunday. Tonight’s first pitch is set for 6:40pm ET.

Starting Lineups

Starting Pitchers

Hunter Greene

After having some struggles in the first two starts, Hunter Greene looked a lot better for much of his last start against Atlanta when he struck out 10 batters without a walk in 6.0 innings and had 20 swinging strikes.

In his career Hunter Greene has had reverse splits. He’s held left-handed batters to a lower average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. Lefties walked at a slightly better clip than righties, but it’s negated by their much lower contact rate and lower power output.

2022 Splits

Pitch Usage 

Jalen Beeks

A reliever who would make some spot starts here and there for Tampa Bay over the last five seasons. Jalen Beeks made seven starts in 2022 and has one in 2023 but none of them have gone more than 2.0 innings in that stretch.

The lefty had reverse splits in 2022. Hitters had the same average and a similar on-base percentage, but lefties hit for significantly more power against him. That hasn’t always held true for his career, but in his career there are no real splits with lefties and righties having an identical .753 OPS against him with negligible differences in average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage.

2022 Splits

Pitch Usage (2022)

When and Where

• Game time: 6:40pm ET
• Where: Great American Ball Park
• Watch: Bally Sports Ohio, MLB.tv
• Listen: 700 WLW AM (Cincinnati area)
• Forecast: 52°, cloudy, 5% chance of rain

News and Notes

Spencer Steer and Lucas Sims updates

Reds injury updates: Lucas Sims is here in Cincinnati and he’s expected to be activated from the IL on Wednesday.

Spencer Steer is day to day with a sore knee.

— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) April 17, 2023

Down on the Farm

Earlier today we took a look at Andrew Abbott and Carlos Jorge in our first look at the minor leagues and who has been standing out to begin the season. Abbott won the Southern League Pitcher of the Week for his work, while Jorge’s got an OPS of nearly 1.200 in the early going.

Standings