Cincinnati

Reds

With the Reds seemingly poised to give him another look in the two hole despite last season’s struggles, things are really looking up for McLain right now. His homers today both left the bat at over 107 mph and were projected at 412 and 421 feet. He’s 8-for-14 with three homers, three walks and just one strikeout in 17 plate appearances this spring. Last spring, he had a 17/2 K/BB in 57 plate appearances.

The first five hitters in the first collected three doubles, a single and a walk before Singer got a double play ball and a strikeout. The second was a little better, but he still gave up one run before Scott Kingery was thrown out at home to end the frame. Singer got just one miss on 20 swings today. His rotation spot is surely safe this spring, but if Chase Burns and Rhett Lowder stay healthy, one wonders if Singer will be one of the Reds’ five best starters for the long run.

Terry Francona likes his veterans, so it’d be for the best if Stewart left nothing to chance this spring as far as forcing his way into Cincinnati’s lineup. He’s 6-for-14 with two homers, three walks and two steals thus far. Consider him one of the NL Rookie of the Year favorites.

Exit velocity has never been the issue for Hayes, but it was nice that his two balls in play today were hit 111 and 104 mph. He’s being penciled in as the Reds’ starting third baseman, but the team does have Sal Stewart and Christian Encarnacion-Strand available as alternatives if he doesn’t hit. Heck, Eugenio Suárez and Noelvi Marte both played third last year, too.

Toglia signed a minor league deal in January after being non-tendered by the Rockies, and stood very little of making the Opening Day roster. He’ll likely begin the season in Triple-A Louisville.

The last two runs came after he was pulled with two outs in the third. Abbott has an 11.57 ERA after two turns this spring, but no one will care much about that. He seemed like a poor value pick in mixed leagues after a strong 2025 season that wasn’t really backed up by his peripherals regardless of the spring line.

Lowe did his former Rays teammate dirty as both try to make teams while on minor league deals this spring. Lowe doesn’t really make any sense for the Reds unless they send Sal Stewart down, and they really should not do that. Still, another team might want him as a first baseman against righties, depending on how the spring shakes out.

Myers, who was acquired from the Marlins in late December, is off to a 5-for-11 start as he works to secure a spot in Cincinnati’s outfield as a starter against lefties. He should get the gig, but he does have an option year left if the team wants to send him down.

McLain took Coleman Crow deep in the first inning. He also singled and scored a second run. McLain was awful in 2025 with a .643 OPS, but fantasy managers shouldn’t forget how good he looked in his rookie campaign in 2023, and there’s a chance for some power/speed production this summer.

Greene allowed a run on a wild pitch, and then gave up three straight run-scoring singles. He walked one and didn’t pick up a strikeout in his first Cactus League start of 2026. These things happen. Greene will open the year as the ace for Cincinnati, and he offers significant fantasy upside despite his scuffles in an exhibition bout.