Reds Manager Francona Sticks With Struggling Lineup Against Lefties

Francona's refusal to adjust batting order threatens Cincinnati's early-season success.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 1:05pm

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Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona is once again starting outfielders TJ Friedl and Elly De La Cruz at the top of the lineup against left-handed pitchers, despite their struggles against southpaws last season. This decision has already backfired in the team's opening series against the Boston Red Sox, as the two young hitters went a combined 2-for-15 versus Boston's lefty starters.

Why it matters

Francona's unwillingness to make lineup adjustments against left-handed pitching gives the opposing manager an inherent advantage and could hamper the Reds' chances of success early in the season. Friedl and De La Cruz need to be moved down in the order when facing lefties to mitigate their offensive shortcomings.

The details

In the series finale against the Red Sox, Francona kept Friedl and De La Cruz in the top-3 spots of the batting order despite Boston starting left-hander Connelly Early. The result was another poor performance, with the two hitters going 1-for-6 against Early. Over the first three games of the season, Friedl and De La Cruz are a combined 2-for-15 against left-handed pitching.

  • On March 30, 2026, the Reds lost to the Red Sox in the series finale.
  • In the 2025 season, Friedl hit just .243/.330/.341 against left-handers, while De La Cruz posted a .236/.276/.342 slash line versus southpaws.

The players

Terry Francona

The manager of the Cincinnati Reds, known for his old-school approach and reluctance to make lineup changes.

TJ Friedl

A Reds outfielder who has struggled against left-handed pitching, hitting just .243/.330/.341 against them in 2025.

Elly De La Cruz

A Reds infielder who also had poor numbers against lefties in 2025, posting a .236/.276/.342 slash line.

Connelly Early

A left-handed pitcher for the Boston Red Sox who started against the Reds in the series finale.

Greg Weissert

A right-handed reliever for the Boston Red Sox who came in to face Elly De La Cruz.

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What’s next

If Francona continues to start Friedl and De La Cruz at the top of the lineup against left-handed pitchers, the team and fans may begin to more vocally criticize the manager's lineup decisions.

The takeaway

Francona's stubborn refusal to adjust his lineup against left-handed pitchers could undermine the Reds' early-season success, as evidenced by the poor performance of Friedl and De La Cruz in the opening series. The manager needs to be more flexible in his lineup construction to mitigate the inherent advantages given to opposing left-handed starters.