​Spencer Steer has logged time virtually everywhere during his college and professional journeys, but one position has always been missing from his résumé: center field. On the same day news broke that Matt McLain would land on the 10-day injured list with a calf strain, Steer was pressed into CF duty, shagging balls as a player who hadn’t seen CF action since his college days. The Reds plan to deploy Steer as their center fielder in Friday’s series opener at Great American Ball Park against the Chicago Cubs.
Yes, that’s the headline, at least as it relates to the infield shake-ups. Despite the Reds’ front office having praised Noelvi Marte’s athleticism and natural instincts for capable CF play, Marte will instead start in right field that night. The decision to slot Steer into center field marks the latest in a long, rocky sequence of moves from Cincinnati’s decision-makers. The timing also aligns with Ke’Bryan Hayes’s return at third base, suggesting the organization may believe Hayes’s defense at the hot corner is so transformative that it renders other defensive assignments almost interchangeable.
That’s the headline for tonight’s game, or at least the lead story. The other major development is Hunter Greene’s second start since elbow surgery, with hopes that anything—anything at all—could resemble even a fraction of his former form after his rough first outing back. The first pitch against the Cubs is scheduled for 7:10 PM ET. Starting lineups for both teams are listed below.