Tuesday, July 22

CINCINNATI -- Matt McLain's short swing, speed and ability to get on base should keep the Reds’ second baseman's slumps to a minimum, but here he is. 

Over a month removed from his activation from the injured list on April 15, McLain is still mired in a deep offensive funk. In 41 games this season, the 25-year-old is batting .176/.289/.318 with six home runs and 17 RBIs. He missed 10 days from April 5-15 with a left hamstring strain, and despite a full recovery, hasn't gotten going again.

“I think it’s more of a reminder just to keep playing the game the right way," McLain said. "It’s easy to get down on yourself in this game, and it’s easy to think of the negatives. But you’ve got to find the positives every day. It could be about the process, and [you] know it’s going to show up at the end of the year.”

On May 13, manager Terry Francona moved McLain out of the No. 2 spot in the lineup down to eighth. He's mostly batted seventh, eighth or ninth since.

“It wasn’t a punishment," Francona said late last week. "It was just trying to take a little bit of the glare off. When you’re kind of scuffling, you’re getting that extra at-bat a lot. I do think our best batting order is when he’s hitting up at the top. Just want to make sure when we do it, I don’t have to undo something.”

A little more than two weeks before Elly De La Cruz burst onto the scene, McLain made his Major League debut on May 15, 2023, and he arguably had the better offensive rookie season. He batted .290 with an .864 OPS, 16 homers, 50 RBIs and 14 steals. The only downer was he missed the final month with an oblique injury.

McLain's sophomore year provided a bigger downer. His 2024 season was wiped out entirely by a left shoulder injury that required surgery.

The good news for McLain is that according to Statcast, he's making solid contact when he puts the ball in play, with an 11.8 percent barrel rate, a 47.3 percent hard-hit rate and a 38.7 percent sweet-spot rate. But his whiff and strikeout rates have notably increased from 2023. 

McLain went from a 28 percent whiff rate in 2023 to a 30.9 percent rate in '25. His strikeout rate went from 28.5 percent to 32.8 percent. His whiff rate of 35.3 percent with two strikes has been especially rough after it was 28.1 percent in '23. It's the sixth-highest rate in MLB (min. 100 swings on two-strike pitches).

Here are some other two-strike numbers for McLain:

2023: 242 PA / .210 BA / .344 SLG / +4 run value with 2 strikes

2025: 108 PA / .086 BA / .097 SLG / -6 run value with 2 strikes

McLain initially responded well to the move down with a five-game hitting streak. But on Sunday vs. the Guardians, he went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts to end a 17-game streak of reaching safely. He's gone hitless in his last three games. 

While injuries have been a factor, the Reds have often had feast-or-famine offensive production in 2025. Recent tears by Will Benson, Gavin Lux and Austin Hays have aided the recent boost for five straight wins before Tuesday's 1-0 loss to the Pirates. Over the long haul, McLain's bat is one of the keys the Reds are counting on. 

“He’s a good player. He’s going to hit. He’s just too good," Francona said.

Appreciating Francona's support, McLain showed no ill will about being moved down in the Cincinnati batting order.

“Teams aren't coming at you any different just because of where you are in the lineup,' he said. "You’re still one hitter in the lineup. It doesn’t matter where you hit. Just try to be the best version of yourself, no matter where you are in the lineup every day. That’s all I’m trying to do.”

It was announced this week that the Walnut Hills neighborhood of Cincinnati was selected for the 2025 Community Makeover by the Reds Community Fund. The Reds, P&G and the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden are combining forces with several other companies -- including Cincinnati Children's Hospital, GE Aerospace, Kroger and the United Way of Greater Cincinnati -- to have more than 400 volunteers pitching in on the annual service day on July 24.

This is the 16th year of Community Makeover, which brings organizations and volunteers together to provide a sustainable impact to a neighborhood while strengthening youth baseball and softball programs. 

Five Walnut Hills sites are part of the ambitious makeover project, plus Owl's Nest Park in adjacent Evanston. For more information, click here.

"I’m proud of this whole team, but [of] our bullpen in particular. It’s just risen to the occasion every time.” -- LHP Brent Suter on Saturday, after a bullpen day limited the Guardians to one run during a 4-1 victory.

• Nick Lodolo has pitched superbly on the road this season.

• How Santiago Espinal used a fake bunt to perfection in Saturday's win.

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