San Francisco @ Cincinnati preview
Great American Ball Park
Last Meeting ( Feb 23, 2025 ) Cincinnati 2, San Francisco 5
With a not-so-new manager in place, the Cincinnati Reds kick off the 2025 season Thursday when they host the San Francisco Giants in the traditional National League opener.
After taking a year off to recuperate and rejuvenate, Terry Francona brings 1,950 wins and two World Series titles to the Reds' dugout. He has tabbed right-hander Hunter Greene (9-5, 2.75 ERA in 2024) to make his second Opening Day start for the Reds.
San Francisco counters with ace right-hander Logan Webb (13-10, 3.47 ERA), who has posted double-figure wins in four consecutive seasons.
Francona is being counted on to lead the Reds where David Bell could not. Bell was fired with just five games remaining in Cincinnati's 77-85 season -- a season that began with great expectations, but ultimately disappointed as injuries to regulars like Matt McLain and Christian Encarnacion-Strand helped to derail hopes of making a run at the NL Central title.
This season begins with more significant injuries for the Reds as starting catcher Tyler Stephenson (oblique), left fielder Spencer Steer (right shoulder) and closer Alexis Diaz (hamstring) open on the injured list.
Still, the Reds expect plenty from a roster that features additions with playoff experience. With Stephenson injured, Jose Trevino -- acquired from the New York Yankees -- will start at catcher. Gavin Lux, who earned a World Series ring with the Los Angeles Dodgers, will get starts at third base and left field. Austin Hays, after playing last year with Baltimore and Philadelphia, offers depth in the outfield.
The 65-year-old Francona boasts World Series experience himself, having won titles with the Boston Red Sox in 2004 and 2007 and coming one game away from winning a third, staunched by a Game 7 loss in 2016 with Cleveland.
"I think the guys felt good about themselves," Francona said. "That's what you're shooting for. We've asked a ton of these guys this spring, because of some newness on my part. They've worked their (tails) off. They do it every day. We ask them to try something, and they do it.
"It's been a great spring. On our staff, (existing coaches from old staff) have welcomed the new coaches. We've meshed well together. I'd say the cooperation level has been off the charts. We know we're not the finished product. But that's OK. We'll go try to figure it out."
Cincinnati hasn't won the NL Central since Dusty Baker led the Reds to a 97-win season in 2012.
The Giants also are coming off a disappointing season that ended with a losing record. They finished 80-82, which was fourth in the highly competitive NL West.
The Giants made one big splash in free agency, signing shortstop Willy Adames to a seven-year, $182 million contract that included a $22 million signing bonus -- making it the largest contract in club history.
Off the field, the Giants made a significant change by firing Farhan Zaidi as president of baseball operations and hiring former star catcher Buster Posey to handle that role.
The Giants start the season without outfielder Jerar Encarnacion, who fractured his left ring finger Friday when he came down on his glove hand trying to make a diving catch against the Guardians in a Cactus League game. He is scheduled for surgery this week and is out indefinitely.
Encarnacion hit .302 with two home runs and 14 RBIs in spring training and was in line to make San Francisco's roster after batting .248 with five homers in 35 games in 2024.
"He was putting himself in the position of getting quite a few at-bats, and rightly so," said Giants manager Bob Melvin. "Based on what we saw last year and based on what we saw in the spring, there's a lot to like."
--Field Level Media