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Opening Day in Cincinnati is Finally Here!

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Drew Crabtree | Last updated Mar 27, 2025 2:41 PM ET

The 2025 Cincinnati Reds are set to take the field and the city of Cincinnati is buzzing with excitement. From a potential Cy Young candidate on the mound to a bona fide MVP candidate in the lineup, this year's Reds team looks to be better than last year due to health, youth development, and an upgrade at manager.

Hunter Greene gets his second career start on Opening Day, hoping to improve upon his 3.1-inning, three-run no-decision in 2023. Last year, Greene was one of the top pitchers in all of baseball, tying with Chris Sale atop the bWAR leaderboard in the NL. He will be making his third start against the San Francisco Giants. In those two previous starts, Greene pitched 11.1 innings and has yet to allow an earned run with 17 strikeouts.

Here is how the Reds will line up in the first game of the year:

1.) CF TJ Friedl
2.) 2B Matt McLain
3.) SS Elly De La Cruz
4.) LF Gavin Lux
5.) 3B Jeimer Candelario
6.) DH Spencer Steer
7.) 1B Christian Encarnacion-Strand
8.) RF Jake Fraley
9.) C Jose Trevino
SP: Hunter Greene

The Giants will throw out their ace, Logan Webb. Last year, Webb was also among the elites in MLB, finishing sixth in the Cy Young voting with a 3.47 ERA and leading all NL pitchers with 204.2 innings pitched. 2024 was a down year relative to his impressive career to this point but he's still expected to be one of the best arms in the game.

This will be his sixth start against the Reds in his career (and seventh appearance). In those seven appearances, Webb has tossed 33.0 innings with a 1.64 ERA. However, over his last three starts, Webb is 0-2 across 20.0 innings and has allowed seven runs off 19 hits.

Their first lineup will be:

1.) 1B LaMonte Wade Jr.
2.) SS Willy Adames
3.) CF Jung Hoo Lee
4.) 3B Matt Chapman
5.) LF Heliot Ramos
6.) C Patrick Bailey
7.) DH Wilmer Flores
8.) RF Mike Yastrzemski
9.) 2B Tyler Fitzgerald
SP: Logan Webb