Reds, Marlins eye building blocks as season winds down

As the final month of the regular season approaches, the progress of young players such as Miami Marlins 26-year-old catcher Jorge Alfaro and 24-year-old Cincinnati Reds center fielder Nick Senzel is something to watch.

The Reds and host Marlins -- who are set to wrap up a four-game series on Thursday night with Cincinnati in position for a sweep -- are both well under .500. The Marlins, in fact, have the worst record in the National League.

Player development for the future thus becomes crucial, and Alfaro and Senzel figure to continue to make their case that they could break out with huge years in 2020.

Senzel, a former Tennessee Volunteers star who led the SEC in doubles with 25 in 2016, was the second overall pick in that year's MLB draft.

Senzel made his major league debut this season on May 3, and his results have been promising but not overwhelming. Senzel will enter Thursday's game with a .264 batting average, 11 home runs, 20 doubles, four triples, 41 RBIs and 14 steals in 18 attempts.

Reds hitting coaches Turner Ward and Donnie Ecker have tinkered with his approach, and there's still work to be done as Senzel went 0-for-4 on Wednesday, with three strikeouts.

"It's been extremely hard," Senzel said of the changes. "It's been harder mentally than physically. I've hit a certain way my entire life. But I want to be the best."

Meanwhile, Alfaro was acquired by the Marlins, along with two promising prospects, in February from the Philadelphia Phillies for fellow catcher J.T. Realmuto.

Alfaro led all NL catchers last year in arm strength (90.8 mph) and also in catcher's ERA 3.45.

In his second year as a major league starter, Alfaro has set career highs with 14 homers and 44 RBIs with more than a month left in the season.

August has been seen his best OPS of this season (.820), and September is coming up, and that's traditionally his best month (.849 OPS, his best of any month).

"When he doesn't chase pitches, he's pretty good," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "When he puts the ball in play, he hits the ball hard."

Alfaro, who was rested on Wednesday, is expected to catch rookie right-hander Robert Dugger (0-1, 10.80 ERA) on Thursday. Dugger made his major league debut on Aug. 5, losing to the New York Mets. He allowed five hits, four walks and six runs in five innings, and this will be just his second big-league appearance.

The Reds will counter with left-hander Alex Wood (1-3, 6.07), who has had some bright moments against the Marlins. In 14 career appearances against the Marlins, including 11 starts, he is 6-4 with a 2.63 ERA.

In eight appearances -- including six starts -- at Marlins Park, Wood is 4-2 with a 3.05 ERA.

Wood has a better road ERA this year (4.76) than he does at home (7.82). But he has just one quality start in six tries this season.

His most recent start came Saturday, when he took a 14-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Wood allowed two hits, three walks and five runs (four earned) in 5 1/3 innings.

"I thought that was his best start since we got him," Reds manager David Bell said. "He just lost his feel for the strike zone in the sixth."

Hopefully for Wood's sake, Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez will stay hot on Thursday. Suarez has homered in four straight games.

--Field Level Media