Cincinnati Enquirer

For openers

The Reds will open a new stadium for the fifth time Monday and third time since the beginning of the 2001 season. The Reds will play the Phillies in the inaugural game in Philadelphia's 43,500-seat Citizens Bank Park.

The Reds participated in the first games at Milwaukee's Miller Park (5-4 loss) and Pittsburgh's PNC Park (8-2 win) in 2001.

Previously, the Reds had opened Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles in 1962 (6-3 win) and Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Stadium in 1970 (3-2 win).

Road warriors

The Phillies series opens a stretch of 17 road games in a 20-game period that will take the Reds to May 4.

The Reds' only home games in that time are a three-game series against Atlanta, April 20-22.

Fourteen of the 20 games are with teams considered postseason contenders - Philadelphia (3), Atlanta (3), the Cubs (4) and Houston (4).

Who's hot

Danny Graves. The Reds closer recorded back-to-back saves Wednesday and Thursday for the first time since June 25 and 26, 2002.

Graves' save Saturday was his 134th as a Red, most by a right-hander. Graves is chasing John Franco's club save record of 148.

Who's not

Clutch hitters. Even though they won four of their first five games, Reds batters hit only .119 (5-for-28) with runners in scoring position.

Trivia

Who are the three players on the active roster who were first-round draft picks by the Reds? (answer below)

By the numbers

3 Consecutive losing seasons at home for the Reds, the first time that's happened since 1982.

98,527 Attendance for the season-opening series against the Cubs, largest since 1994.

9,461 Walk-up crowd for Friday's game, the largest since 1994.

4 Bases on balls allowed by Reds pitchers in three games against the Cubs, compared with 20 strikeouts.

0.64 ERA by Reds relievers in the first five games, covering 14 innings.

1994 The last time the Reds won four of their first five games.

Prospect watch

The Reds got a strong performance from Brandon Claussen in his debut for the Louisville Bats Friday.

The left-hander, acquired from the Yankees for Aaron Boone last July 31, struck out 11 and allowed only an unearned run in six innings of a 3-1 victory over Richmond.

Stephen Smitherman, the Reds' minor league player of the year last season, hit a two-run homer.

The week ahead

The Reds play the Phillies for three games - Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, then travel to Chicago to face the Cubs for four games beginning Friday.

The Reds won five of nine games against the Phillies last season, losing two of three at Philly.

Trivia answer

Barry Larkin (1985), Austin Kearns (1998) and Ryan Wagner (2003) were drafted in the first round.