By Sam Bush
The Phillies and Reds are hoping that 2016 will bear fruit in the rebuilding both teams have gone through lately.
And the results start coming in today in Cincy with an opening day game at 4:10 p.m. ET. Right-hander Jeremy Hellickson will get the start for the Phillies in the opener, while 26-year-old righty Raisel Iglesias goes for the Reds.
The Phillies’ roster that will take the field at Great American Ball Park features some promising youth — including third baseman Maikel Franco (above) — with more talent potentially on its way among the minor league ranks.
“This is the most talent we’ve had in the four years I’ve been here,” said Phillies director of player development Joe Jordan. “We got to see all of our big prospects … together in big league camp this year, and they all represented themselves very well. There are a lot of good things happening.”
Opening Day will be a first for new Phillies manager Pete Mackanin, who has managed only on an interim basis prior to this season.
“I think with our rotation, and the bullpen we’re going to have, excluding the closer right now, I think we’re going to be in a lot more games than we were last year,” Mackanin said. “I think that’s going to lead to more wins. How many remains to be seen.”
Phillies’ projected lineup
Cesar Hernandez, 2B
Odubel Herrera, CF
Maikel Franco, 1B
Ryan Howard, 1B
Carlos Ruiz, C
Peter Bourjos, RF
Tyler Goeddel, LF
Freddy Galvis, SS
Jeremy Hellickson, RHP
Reds’ projected lineup
Zack Cozart, SS
Eugenio Suarez, 3B
Joey Votto, 1B
Brandon Phillips, 2B
Jay Bruce, RF
Devin Mesoraco, C
Adam Duvall, LF
Raisel Iglesias, RHP
Billy Hamilton, CF
