Both teams come in stubbing their toes. The Yankees got embarrassed 5-1 by the White Sox on Thursday — Andrew Benintendi grand-slammed Camilo Doval on the first pitch he saw — and the Reds got blown out 9-1 by the Mets to close out their last series. So whatever momentum either side had is gone. New York is still 45-28 and 10 games over .500 in the AL East race. The Reds at 35-38 are scrapping to get back to break-even.
The injury column is where this game actually tilts. Aaron Judge is out 4-6 weeks with a rib stress fracture, Giancarlo Stanton re-tweaked the calf, Austin Wells is on a rehab assignment, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. exited Thursday after a foul ball caught him in the groin — his status for the opener is up in the air. That's an entire heart-of-the-order's worth of damage, and the lineup behind Schlittler is mostly Volpe, Caballero, and faith.
- Day-To-DayConnor Burns (C) — no05/08
- 10-Day-ILKe'Bryan Hayes (3B) — Hayes (back) has begun hitting at the Reds' training facility in Arizona, MLB.com reports.06/18
- 10-Day-ILElly De La Cruz (SS) — De La Cruz (hamstring) is scheduled to begin running Tuesday and Wednesday, and he will begin a rehab assignment Friday with Triple-A Gwinnett, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.06/16
- 15-Day-ILEmilio Pagan (RP) — Pagan (hamstring) threw a bullpen session Tuesday and is scheduled to pitch in a simulated game/live batting practice session at Yankee Stadium on Friday, MLB.com reports.06/17
- 15-Day-ILPierce Johnson (RP) — Johnson (elbow) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Thursday, MLB.com reports.06/17
- OutCarson Spiers (SP) — The Reds re-signed Spiers (elbow) to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training Monday.05/08
- 60-Day-ILHunter Greene (SP) — Greene (elbow) is slated to begin a rehab assignment Thursday in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.06/14
- 60-Day-ILGraham Ashcraft (RP) — Ashcraft (elbow) received a platelet-rich plasma injection Tuesday, MLB.com reports.06/03
- 60-Day-ILBrandon Williamson (SP) — The Reds transferred Williamson (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.05/08
- Day-To-DayJazz Chisholm Jr. (2B) — Chisholm (groin) exited Thursday's contest against the White Sox in the fourth inning, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.06/19
- Day-To-DayEric Reyzelman (SP) — no06/05
- Day-To-DayTravis MacGregor (SP) — MacGregor underwent Tommy John surgery last September and will miss the entire 2019 season, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com reports.05/08
- 10-Day-ILTrent Grisham (CF) — Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday that Grisham has been diagnosed with a "moderate" right hamstring strain, Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reports.06/16
- 10-Day-ILGiancarlo Stanton (DH) — The Yankees announced that Stanton (calf) reinjured his calf and will have a slow week of activities, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.06/16
- 10-Day-ILAustin Wells (C) — Wells (head) has been sent to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to begin a rehab assignment.06/16
- 10-Day-ILAaron Judge (RF) — The Yankees announced Thursday that Judge has a stress fracture of his first rib on his right side and will be sidelined for 4-to-6 weeks before being re-evaluated, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.06/05
- 15-Day-ILMax Fried (SP) — Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Friday that Fried (elbow) will throw off a mound Saturday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.06/12
- 60-Day-ILClarke Schmidt (SP) — Schmidt (elbow) has been "feeling great" during recent mound sessions and could start throwing to hitters by the end of June, per MLB.com.06/08
The silver lining for Cincinnati is that help is finally on the way. De La Cruz starts his rehab assignment Friday — 5 innings at short to open, building up over the weekend, with a target return next week against Milwaukee. Hunter Greene struck out 6 in his first rehab start. None of it helps tonight, but the Reds just have to tread water for another week.
Bottom line: the Yankees are a banged-up favorite leaning entirely on a starter who has been the best version of himself all season. The Reds are running a guy still shaking off rust into the meat grinder. Schlittler's start is the entire game.