Analysis: Dunn started each of the Reds' previous two games, as the team faced back-to-back southpaw starters. However, with righty Elvin Rodriguez on the mound for the Brewers on Saturday, Dunn will sit while Jake Fraley starts in right field. Dunn has had a rough beginning to the campaign, going 1-for-10 with no walks and three strikeouts thus far.

Analysis: McLain was a late scratch Friday due to a hamstring injury, but he was able to log a plate appearance as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning. The 25-year-old shortstop is back in the lineup Saturday, suggesting that the hamstring issue isn't a major concern. The struggling Spencer Steer is getting the day off Saturday, allowing McLain to stay off his feet as the team's DH. Meanwhile, Santiago Espinal is starting at second base.

Analysis: Steer was originally out of the lineup for Friday's series opener, but he was inserted as the Reds' DH after Matt McLain was removed due to a hamstring issue. Steer went 0-for-3 with a walk in the contest to lower his season batting average to a meager .048, and he's getting an opportunity to reset Saturday. McLain is back after Friday's absence and is starting at DH against the Brewers in Steer's stead.

Analysis: Candelario rapped his first extra-base hit of the season to deliver the second run of Cincinnati's two-run eighth inning, the first runs the Reds scored in 35 innings. He's batting .214 (6-for-28) as part of a team-wide batting malaise to the start the season. Other than the 14-run outburst Monday against the Rangers, the Reds have averaged 1.71 runs per game over seven contests.

Analysis: Espinal filled in for an injured Matt McLain (hamstring), who was available as a pinch hitter and did so Friday. That McLain entered the game suggests he might be ready to go Saturday. Espinal has appeared in six games while playing second base, third base, left field and right field.

Analysis: Encarnacion-Strand ended the Reds' 35-inning scoreless streak with a run-producing sacrifice fly in the eighth inning. It was the first productive plate appearance in a while for Encarnacion-Strand, who doesn't have a hit over his last 20 plate appearances.

Analysis: The second baseman was a late scratch before the contest, but McLain's hamstring issue doesn't appear to be a serious one. The fact that he was available off the bench is a good sign he'll be able to return to the starting nine Saturday, although the Reds might continue to treat the 25-year-old with kid gloves given that he missed the entire 2024 season due to multiple injuries. McLain is batting .214 (6-for-28) to begin the year with three homers, a steal, five RBI and seven runs.

Analysis: While the right-hander's final line didn't look too bad, Martinez couldn't seem to put the ball quite where he wanted. He needed 92 pitches (51 strikes) to record his 14 outs, and when he did get the ball over the plate it tended to be right down the middle -- a tendency he paid for in the fifth inning, when light-hitting Brice Turang crushed a cutter 418 feet to right-center field. Martinez will carry a 5.91 ERA and 7:3 K:BB through 10.2 innings into his next start, which is scheduled to come on the road next week in San Francisco.

Analysis: Steer was originally out of the lineup, though Matt McLain (hamstring) was scratched roughly an hour before first pitch. After reconfiguring the order, Steer will occupy a prominent spot in the Reds' order, and he'll look to get on track after beginning the season with only one hit across 18 at-bats.

Analysis: The Reds haven't offered any information regarding the severity of McLain's injury, though it's apparently enough to keep him out of Friday's contest. He can be viewed as day-to-day for now; meanwhile, his absence will open a spot in the lineup for Spencer Steer to serve as the DH and bat second.

Analysis: After a 1-for-18 start to the season, Steer will get a chance to recollect himself during a day off Friday. Meanwhile, Jeimer Candelario will serve as the Reds' designated hitter, and Santiago Espinal will start at the hot corner.

Analysis: Back-to-back games against a left-handed starter will mean back-to-back days off for Fraley, who owns just a .504 OPS against southpaws in his career. Blake Dunn will fill in as Cincinnati's right fielder again Friday and bat sixth.

Analysis: Trevino has gone 3-for-14 through his first six games of the season, and he'll get a chance to catch his breath Saturday while Austin Wynns starts behind the plate and bats ninth.

Analysis: With a left-hander on the bump for Milwaukee, the righty-hitting Dunn got the start in right field ahead of Jake Fraley. Gavin Lux pinch hit for him when a right-handed reliever entered the game. It was his third start of the season for Dunn, one at each outfield position. He should be in the lineup most days when an opponent sends a southpaw to the mound.

Analysis: Lodolo was excellent Thursday, tossing three shutout innings to begin the game before Sal Frelick opened the scoring with a fourth-inning single that went for an unearned run due to a Lodolo fielding error earlier in the frame. After hurling two more clean innings, Lodolo allowed two singles and was lifted with two outs in the seventh frame. The southpaw tentatively sets up for a matchup early next in San Francisco, where he'll carry a sharp 1.42 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and 5:1 K:BB over 12.2 innings (two starts) to begin the campaign.

Analysis: The lefty-hitting Fraley will grab a seat on the bench to begin Thursday's contest while the lefty-throwing Nestor Cortes toes the slab for Milwaukee. Blake Dunn will pick up a start in right field as a result and bat sixth.

Analysis: The Reds will keep Lux and his career .554 OPS against left-handers on the bench Thursday with southpaw Nestor Cortes set to start on the mound for the Brewers. Santiago Espinal will get the nod in left field instead and bat eighth.

Analysis: McLain reached base on an error then stole second, putting himself in scoring position with no outs. Two swinging strikeouts and a groundout followed, and the Reds lost a second consecutive 1-0 game. The theft was the first of the season for McLain, who had double-digit steals for the Reds in 2023 and at every minor league stop before that.

Analysis: De La Cruz doubled then stole third base in the fourth inning but was left on base. The steal was De La Cruz's second of the season. Through six games, he's batting .333 (8-for-24), the lone Red regular with an average above .250.

Analysis: Encarnacion-Strand returned to the lineup after missing one game due to a hand injury. After a pair of two-hit games to open the season, he's gone hitless in his nine at-bats.