The Reds did Levi Stoudt dirty scheduling his first MLB start against the Rays

No player should ever feel anything except excited when finding out they just got called up to the Major Leagues, but Levi Stoudt might have experienced a pit in his stomach when the Reds’ pitcher saw who he was lining up against in his Wednesday debut.

Cincinnati promoted its No. 14 overall prospect just in time to face a Tampa Bay Rays team on a historic run to begin the season.

It really, really did not go well for Stoudt. That’s what you’d expect to happen when a rookie pitcher faces the hottest hitting lineup in baseball at a park notorious for bruising the ERA of everyone who takes the mound.

You can absolutely guess what happened next. Stoudt gave up a home run to the first batter he faced, Yandy Diaz, on just the third MLB pitch he ever threw.

It didn’t get any better from there.

Here's how the first inning of Reds' rookie pitcher Levi Stoudt's debut went:

Home Run
Single
Single
Fly Out
Double (RBI)
Single (2 RBI)
Double (2 RBI)
Groundout
Single
Fly Out pic.twitter.com/YT6oDk81oK

— The Game Day MLB (@TheGameDayMLB) April 19, 2023

Levi Stouts day is done: 4 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO. 84 pitches, 56 strikes. Lucas Sims is out to make his season debut

— C. Trent Rosecrans (@ctrent) April 19, 2023

Bettors, naturally, didn’t have to think too hard about how to place their wagers on this one.

Stoudt hit the under on his strikeout prop (3.5) while Tampa Bay hit the over on their runs scored line (5.5) before the end of the first inning. According to VSiN, 81 percent of all money wagered on the spread took the Rays (-1.5) along with 88 percent of all bets.

Which really makes you wonder what the other 12 percent of bettors were thinking. If ever there was a time the public should’ve had a clear, 100 percent consensus this was it.

The Reds really owe Stoudt here. The least they can do is make sure he’s lined up to start next weekend when Cincinnati faces the Oakland A’s.

That should help his 15.75 ERA come back down to Earth quite a bit.

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