All-Star, and 2010 MVP, and slugger Jay Bruce, who has averaged 32 homers and 102 RBIs each of the last three seasons. Bruce’s 109 RBIs last season were a career-high. The Reds have offense one-through-eight, as even the bottom of the order, Ryan Ludwick and Todd Frazier have 20-homer power. FIELDING Nobody in the National League caught the ball better than the Cincinnati Reds, whose .988 fielding percentage tied for the league lead with St. Louis and Arizona. Their 76 errors were only one off the pace of the Cards and D-Backs. The infield is secure all around with Votto (a career .993 fielder), Phillips (.988), Zach Cozart at short and steady fielder Todd Frazier at third. The infield may get some help, as manager Bryan Price likes to implement a lot of shifts. In the outfield, Hamilton’s blazing speed will help efficient corner outfielders Ludwick and Bruce, who ranked second in fielding percentage (.991) and third in the NL in outfield assists (13). Catcher Devin Mesoraco is better known for his offense but knows the staff. STARTING PITCHING The starters were a big reason the Reds won 90 games. They were the only rotation to throw more than 1,000 innings, fired 17 shutouts (the most for a Reds staff since 1973), and were top five in ERA, fewest walks and opponent batting average. That was with ace Johnny Cueto missing nearly three months and making just 11 starts, only two of which came after June 28. While they’ll miss Bronson Arroyo, Mat Latos and Homer Bailey, who re-signed for $100 million over the off-season, are studs, although both were hurt during the spring. Lefty Tony Cingrani and righty Mike Leake fit the mold as dependable innings-eaters at the back of the rotation. RELIEF PITCHING When Reds starters did relinquish the ball, the bullpen slammed the door shut. No one slammed the door more emphatically than All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman, who converted 38 of 43 saves, striking out an NL-high 112 in 63 2/3 innings. He survived a scare, getting hit in the face by a line drive in spring training and there will be question marks on his return. Formerly Chapman’s setup men, and temporarily the closers will be the rubber-armed trio of J.J. Hoover (a team-high 69 appearances), Sam LeCure, and Alfredo Simon all of whom made more than 60 appearances, with ERAs under 3.00. Veteran Manny Parra threw to a career-best 3.33 ERA. The pen will get even stronger once powerful righty Jonathan Broxton and lefty Sean Marshall return from injury. MANAGING Bryan Price, the man in charge of developing all this Reds’ pitching wealth since being hired as Dusty Baker’s pitching coach in 2010, will now be in charge of the entire team, replacing Baker, the thirdwinningest manager in franchise history. It will be his first time on the hot seat, but he knows the talent in the clubhouse and is respected by the players. GM Walt Jocketty seemed relatively content with the hand he had — not pursuing free agents Shin-Soo Choo or Bronson Arroyo and trading away catcher Ryan Hanigan, but he has a winning track record and can heat up the phone lines in a hurry should he deem it necessary. DATE OPPONENT TIME Sun, 6/29 at Giants 4:05p Mon, 6/30 at Padres 10:10p Tue, 7/1 at Padres 10:10p Wed, 7/2 at Padres 3:40p Fri, 7/4 Brewers 7:10p Sat, 7/5 Brewers 4:10p Sun, 7/6 Brewers 1:10p Mon, 7/7 Cubs 7:10p Tue, 7/8 Cubs 7:10p Wed, 7/9 Cubs 7:10p Thu, 7/10 Cubs 12:35p Fri, 7/11 Pirates 7:10p Sat, 7/12 Pirates 7:15p Sun, 7/13 Pirates 1:10p Fri, 7/18 at Yankees 7:05p Sat, 7/19 at Yankees 1:05p Sun, 7/20 at Yankees 1:05p Mon, 7/21 at Brewers 8:10p Tue, 7/22 at Brewers 8:10p Wed, 7/23 at Brewers 2:10p Fri, 7/25 Nationals 7:10p Sat, 7/26 Nationals 4:05p Sun, 7/27 Nationals 1:10p Mon, 7/28 D-backs 7:10p Tue, 7/29 D-backs 7:10p Wed, 7/30 D-backs 12:35p Thu, 7/31 at Marlins 7:10p DATE OPPONENT TIME Fri, 8/1 at Marlins 7:10p Sat, 8/2 at Marlins 7:10p Sun, 8/3 at Marlins 1:10p Mon, 8/4 at Indians 7:05p Tue, 8/5 at Indians 7:05p Wed, 8/6 Indians 7:10p Thu, 8/7 Indians 7:10p Fri, 8/8 Marlins 7:10p Sat, 8/9 Marlins 7:10p Sun, 8/10 Marlins 1:10p Tue, 8/12 Red Sox 7:10p Wed, 8/13 Red Sox 12:35p Thu, 8/14 at Rockies 8:40p Fri, 8/15 at Rockies 8:40p Sat, 8/16 at Rockies 8:10p Sun, 8/17 at Rockies 4:10p Mon, 8/18 at Cardinals 8:15p Tue, 8/19 at Cardinals 8:15p Wed, 8/20 at Cardinals 7:15p Thu, 8/21 Braves 7:10p Fri, 8/22 Braves 7:10p Sat, 8/23 Braves 7:10p Sun, 8/24 Braves 1:10p Tue, 8/26 Cubs 7:10p Wed, 8/27 Cubs 7:10p Thu, 8/28 Cubs 12:35p Fri, 8/29 at Pirates 7:05p DATE OPPONENT TIME Sat, 8/30 at Pirates 4:05p Sun, 8/31 at Pirates 1:35p Tue, 9/2 at Orioles 7:05p Wed, 9/3 at Orioles 7:05p Thu, 9/4 at Orioles 7:05p Fri, 9/5 Mets 7:10p Sat, 9/6 Mets 4:10p Sun, 9/7 Mets 1:10p Mon, 9/8 Cardinals 7:10p Tue, 9/9 Cardinals 7:10p Wed, 9/10 Cardinals 7:10p Thu, 9/11 Cardinals 12:35p Fri, 9/12 at Brewers 8:10p Sat, 9/13 at Brewers 7:10p Sun, 9/14 at Brewers 2:10p Mon, 9/15 at Cubs 8:05p Tue, 9/16 at Cubs 8:05p Wed, 9/17 at Cubs 8:05p Fri, 9/19 at Cardinals 8:15p Sat, 9/20 at Cardinals 7:15p Sun, 9/21 at Cardinals 2:15p Tue, 9/23 Brewers 7:10p Wed, 9/24 Brewers 7:10p Thu, 9/25 Brewers 12:35p Fri, 9/26 Pirates 7:10p Sat, 9/27 Pirates 4:10p Sun, 9/28 Pirates 1:10p
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