Why Reds’ leadoff options vs. Pirates starter Mitch Keller aren’t great without TJ Fried…

The Cincinnati Reds are facing a challenge in deciding who will lead off against the Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting pitcher Mitch Keller, particularly because they are without TJ Friedl.

The Reds’ lineup is affected by Friedl’s absence due to a hamstring injury, which led to him being replaced by Levi Jordan, a player with extensive minor league experience. On Monday night, the Reds scored a significant number of runs against the Pirates, highlighted by a two-run home run from Elly De La Cruz that hit the steamboat above the batters’ eye at Great American Ball Park. They ended the game with 11 runs and aim to continue this momentum on Tuesday.

Manager David Bell is now considering his options for the leadoff spot in Friedl’s absence. On Monday, he placed Jonathan India in the leadoff position against left-hander Bailey Falter. India performed well, going 3-for-4, and seems to be comfortable in this role. India’s career statistics against Keller are impressive, with a 1.076 OPS. However, his performance against right-handed pitchers this season has been less than stellar, with a .225/.338/.343 slash line, which is not ideal for a leadoff hitter.

Another possible option for Bell is Jake Fraley, a left-handed hitter. This season, Fraley has a .273 batting average against right-handed pitchers and has been 40-for-147 with nine extra-base hits. However, his power numbers are lacking, with a .350 slugging percentage.

Despite these less-than-ideal options, it is likely that Bell will choose to have India lead off again on Tuesday. Moving Fraley to the top of the order would necessitate shifting India down to at least the fifth spot, which seems unwise given India’s strong past performance against Keller.

Overall, while neither option is perfect, India appears to be the best available choice for the leadoff spot at this time. Additionally, there is some concern about Will Benson, who is currently in a slump with no hits in his last 21 at-bats, and whether he will be included in the lineup.