2025 Reds

[creeksman]

Spring training is underway, and the first game is just over a week away.

2024 was a disappointment, primarily due to injuries, a crap bullpen, and terrible game and roster management by David Bell. Despite all of those and an awful record, they still had a positive run differential, meaning there were several wins left on the table.

2025 brings another year of experience for the talented, but young roster, a much improved bullpen, the return of Matt McClain, a legit 5-man rotation, and perhaps most importantly the addition of Terry Francona. I think 90 wins and a wild card slot are on the table, and I don't think that's a hot take. ESPN ranks them as the most improved team in the MLB heading into the season.



Plus they have that one fast guy



Still not sure what the best way to watch them is. I think you can subscribe through the MLB network this season and get all of the games for $19.99/mo or $99.99/season. Think I'd rather do that than get Fubo again this summer. YouTubeTV is the far superior product, but doesn't have FanDuel Network (formerly Bally). Just not sure about blackouts on MLB network.

 

[Tskware]

Spring training is underway, and the first game is only 2 days away.

2024 was a disappointment, primarily due to injuries, a crap bullpen, and terrible game and roster management by David Bell. Despite all of those and an awful record, they still had a positive run differential, meaning there were several wins left on the table.

2025 brings another year of experience for the talented, but young roster, a much improved bullpen, the return of Matt McClain, a legit 5-man rotation, and perhaps most importantly the addition of Terry Francona. I think 90 wins and a wild card slot are on the table, and I don't think that's a hot take. ESPN ranks them as the most improved team in the MLB heading into the season.

View embedded media

Plus they have that one fast guy

View embedded media

Still not sure what the best way to watch them is. I think you can subscribe through the MLB network this season and get all of the games for $19.99/mo or $99.99/season. Think I'd rather do that than get Fubo again this summer. YouTubeTV is the far superior product, but doesn't have FanDuel Network (formerly Bally). Just not sure about blackouts on MLB network.

Got an email from Reds that they were negotiating with several carriers, including YouTube TV (which I use) to carry the games without blackouts. But have not received a follow up email, so my fall back will be the MLB network $20/month package.

 

[kywildcatsfannumber1]

MLB TV is not carrying the Reds games for in-market fans and will be blacked out. Your current options are Fubo, Directv Stream or subscribe to Fan Duel Sports Network. That's it. If you live out of market, you will get to watch them on MLB TV. Main Street Sports Group went back to the Reds to re-negotiate and agreed on a one-year deal to continue airing their games.

The MLB TV agreement that was in place from earlier in the offseason went away with Cincinnati going back to Main Street Sports Group, now FanDuel Sports Network. For cable subscribers, if your provider had Bally Sports and you watched the Reds last year. Nothing has changed and will continue to watch the Reds on the same channel as you always have.

YouTube TV doesn't even carry MLB Network, and just had a price hike last month. Today announced they are dropping CBS and all of the Paramount owned channels.

How to watch Cincinnati Reds on TV in 2025 with & without cable: Full Streaming Guide

The Cincinnati Reds retooled their roster during the offseason and added new manager Terry Francona. How can Reds fans watch their favorite team in 2025?

blogredmachine.com

In-Market Streaming on Bally Sports App | Cincinnati Reds

The Official Site of Major League Baseball

www.mlb.com

FanDuel Sports Network

fanduelsportsnetwork.com

YouTube TV to drop CBS, Nickelodeon and other Paramount channels. Here's why, when

According to their official blog, YouTube TV announced that Paramount/CBS channels will be obsolete after trying to negotiate a deal with the network.

www.statesman.com

 

[M4CAT]

Feb 22nd is the Reds first Spring Training game(s). Split Squad vs Cleveland and Milwaukee that day. The first full squad workout is Monday.

 

[JumperJack]

YouTube TV is rapidly becoming the thing they were once the solution to.

 

[creeksman]

Feb 22nd is the Reds first Spring Training game(s). Split Squad vs Cleveland and Milwaukee that day. The first full squad workout is Monday.

Got my dates mixed up

 

[gollumcat]

I looked into the TV thing today.
I have YouTube TV. I looked into altafiber, which has the reds via FDS, but that entire TV/ internet package would be $55 a month more than just keeping altafiber internet with YouTube TV and adding FDS app .

Which brings me to the next problem. Apparently neither of my Samsung or LG tvs has the FDS app available. Apparently they are too old. I think they are about 8-10 years old, not sure. Seems like a scam to make people buy newer TVs.

But, I have read that FDS will be available as an add-on on Prime video as an add-on subscription. These articles were from last November though and I’ve seen nothing more about it. But that would be ideal in my situation I guess since I do have Prime on the TVs .

So unless the Prime thing is real, unless I buy a new TV, it’s the FDS app on my IPAD.

Never seen something so simple be so needlessly complicated .

 

[gollumcat]

YouTube TV is rapidly becoming the thing they were once the solution to.

Yep. And I just got an email today that they were dropping the paramount channels, including CBS, because they couldn’t come to an agreement. It’s bullshit.

 

[Tskware]

FWIW, I still have CBS on YT TV this AM. Don't know about the Paramount+ shows. Recent update said they had reached a short extension with Paramount+.

I can live without Paramount, but I thought all cable services carried the major networks? Am I wrong?

 

[kybloo92]

The only way you will be watching the Reds on YouTube TV without an additional subscription is the rare game on ESPN, FOX networks or TBS. YouTube TV doesn't have the MLB network or your RSN Fan Duel channels that have exclusive rights to Reds games if you live in Reds country.

 

[kybloo92]

It would be great if the games were included in an add-on through Prime Video and streamed like TNF. I thought originally Amazon bailed out Bally prior to 2024, but nothing ever came to fruition that offered a better platform to stream on than what Bally had to offer last year. I have DTV stream. It is the most expensive service. As a sports fan, it is just more convenient to have everything I need on one subscription than all of the additional services to get everything I need when DTV has that. Fans looking into Fubo will be screwed for the NCAA Tournament as they don't carry TNT, TBS and Tru TV which Kentucky could be aired on come tournament time.

 

[drew_ukfan]

Looking forward to the season! Try to watch all Reds games and plenty of other baseball. #1 sport for me

Im in market but currently have directv. If I move, it’ll be out of market and I’ll pick up MLB TV

 

[bbonds]

If you have T-Mobile, they offer yearly free subscription to MLB.tv. Doesn’t work for Reds fans in the Lexington area though. Was looking forward to MLB offering their games to everyone. So that sucks.

 

[Catfan in Tn.]

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[Tskware]

FWIW, I still have CBS on YT TV this AM. Don't know about the Paramount+ shows. Recent update said they had reached a short extension with Paramount+.

I can live without Paramount, but I thought all cable services carried the major networks? Am I wrong?

YT TV settled with Paramount and CBS, they are all back on YT.

 

[jcrow10]

It’s going to be really interesting to see how the season plays out. I think at their best they may win 92 games this year, and at worst 72 or so. My prediction is that they will probably will win 83 games or so.

The infield has a ton of positional flexibility, I’m just worried a bit more about the outfield and their production which was horrendous last year. Austin Hayes was their “big” signing to address that deficit and if he returns to form they may be okay out there.

Starting pitching depth looks solid to good and the bullpen looks average. I think the Reds are counting a lot on young unproven players to recover from injuries. If Matt McClain, Friedl, Encarnacion-Strand, Lodolo, etc are able to bounce back, then they should possibly make the playoffs.

 

[kybloo92]

There are way too many hypotheticals with this roster. Particularly in the outfield but having a real manager in Francona opposed to David Bell should spot them a few more wins. I am liking the Gavin Lux trade more with their plans to use him all over the infield and some LF. Gives them some postseason experience after being with the Dodgers. He is slightly a notch below what India was giving the Reds.

Concerned about Lowder already dealing with elbow soreness. The rotation on paper looks fine with Greene who could win the Cy Young if he stays healthy all year. Singer, Martinez, Abbott, Lodolo & Lowder. Who knows but Chase Burns could join the rotation by the end of the year as well as Chase Petty. I like the late additions to the bullpen of the former Cat Taylor Rogers and a potential bounce back season from Scott Barlow. Trevino is a gold glove backstop behind Stephenson.

I think this team goes as far as McLain, EDLC & Stephenson can carry them offensively. McLain has to be huge for this team. Steer is dealing with shoulder tendinitis that plagued him last season. Need Friedl and CES to stay healthy as well as Candelario live up to the BS contract the Reds gave him.

 

[Pelosigalore]

If Lodolo has that stress fracture in his leg reappear again this year, he might as well retire.
The reds have bad luck with injuries like the UK basketball program

 

[JumperJack]

India’s recent quote that too many of them took advantage of David Bell (paraphrasing) makes me hopeful that Francona can up their production.

 

[bbonds]

Keep guys off steroids, like last year, to avoid missing half the season. (looking at you Marte)

 

[trueblujr2]

There are way too many hypotheticals with this roster. Particularly in the outfield but having a real manager in Francona opposed to David Bell should spot them a few more wins. I am liking the Gavin Lux trade more with their plans to use him all over the infield and some LF. Gives them some postseason experience after being with the Dodgers. He is slightly a notch below what India was giving the Reds.

Concerned about Lowder already dealing with elbow soreness. The rotation on paper looks fine with Greene who could win the Cy Young if he stays healthy all year. Singer, Martinez, Abbott, Lodolo & Lowder. Who knows but Chase Burns could join the rotation by the end of the year as well as Chase Petty. I like the late additions to the bullpen of the former Cat Taylor Rogers and a potential bounce back season from Scott Barlow. Trevino is a gold glove backstop behind Stephenson.

I think this team goes as far as McLain, EDLC & Stephenson can carry them offensively. McLain has to be huge for this team. Steer is dealing with shoulder tendinitis that plagued him last season. Need Friedl and CES to stay healthy as well as Candelario live up to the BS contract the Reds gave him.

Not too worried about Lowder, they're gonna bring him along slow through spring, but I think his issue was just not having a good workout plan through the winter and not recovering well after bull pen sessions. He said he got with the trainers and now feels better than ever. But who knows.

Hoping for the best this year with a new and actually competent Manager. Just need the front office to give him the tools he needs and stay out of his way.

 

[Ineverplayedthegame]

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sp...-sports-network-watch-television/77694814007/

To summarize: If you don’t have DirectTv, Spectrum, or Fubo, you will have to subscribe to the FanDuel Sports Network App. $20 a month $190 a year.

 

[bbonds]

Why would you do a full year?

 

[rick64]

Could they at least be in the running for the wildcard spot into September. Francona definitely an improvement at manager. Need more consistent play from Elly by getting on base more via walks and fewer Ks. Bullpen is key by holding the lead in mid to late innings.

 

[kybloo92]

Not too worried about Lowder, they're gonna bring him along slow through spring, but I think his issue was just not having a good workout plan through the winter and not recovering well after bull pen sessions. He said he got with the trainers and now feels better than ever. But who knows.

Hoping for the best this year with a new and actually competent Manager. Just need the front office to give him the tools he needs and stay out of his way.

They need Lowder to have a great season and be a mainstay in the rotation. He is critical for the Reds success to step up as a future ace behind Greene for Cincinnati to have a winning season. Does bringing him along slow mean leaving him behind for extended spring training to get into pitching shape so his elbow holds up? Hope that it won't bite Lowder in the ass come June by not having a good offseason training regiment and see him go down halfway through like Hunter Greene did in 2023 undergoing a midseason core strengthening program while missing months of the regular season. That is my biggest concern and I don't believe we will know the effects of what you say until the halfway point by whether he is able to stay healthy or stashed on the IL. If so, that goes back to the one thing you have always alluded to. This strength and conditioning program and the trainers Cincinnati employs need a complete overhaul. Zero excuse to be limping into ST behind the 8 ball with injuries as this team does every year before the season even gets started.

 

[Ineverplayedthegame]

Why would you do a full year?

If you want to also watch the Cavs or Blue Jackets.

 

[kybloo92]

The entire purpose of streaming has been defeated in the first place when it was supposed to save you money. It is so much easier for me to stick with Directv Stream to have the majority of what I want in one place.

WWE and some NFL now on Netflix. College Football, Basketball, NFL, NASCAR & WWE on Peacock. NFL on Prime Video and NASCAR starting this year. If you don't have Directv, Fubo or cable, have to subscribe to Fan Duel Sports Network just to watch the Reds for some of you all here in the market. No MLB Network on YouTube. No TNT, Tru TV, TBS on Fubo which impacts some College Football, the NCAA Tournament, NHL, AEW and NBA on TNT as well as NASCAR starting this year. Would need a subscription to Max for that. Fubo doesn't have the CW so no NASCAR Xfinity races or NXT wrestling.

It was so much simpler when it was all on cable. None of this is cheap and prices have just skyrocketed like cable. Have to bundle several packages just to get everything. By the time you exhaust your trials, paying over $80 for YouTube TV. When you have multiple family members watching at the same time, add another 10 dollars to that per month for multiple screens on at once. Fubo base packages even higher. This is a racket designed to make you pay even more for everything you once had. It is absolutely ridiculous to have to subscribe to that many services if you are the ultimate sports fan and don't want to miss anything.