The Cincinnati Reds got a positive sign Monday on Matt McLain’s left shoulder, and for now the situation does not appear to be heading toward a trip to the injured list.
McLain is still getting treatment, but manager Terry Francona said the second baseman is feeling better and should first test the shoulder in the batting cage before moving on to regular batting practice on the field.
"Better," Francona told Mike Petraglia. "He's going to hit in the cage, and then if that goes okay, he'll go out and hit on the field for regular BP.
And if that doesn't go like we want to, then we'll reassess. But I think he's going in the right direction."
Francona also said Reds trainer Sean McQueeney does not think imaging is "warranted" right now, another encouraging piece of news as the club handles the issue day by day and waits to see how the shoulder reacts to hitting.
While McLain works through that concern, Elly De La Cruz keeps rolling. He has reached base in 20 straight games dating back to Aug. 22, posting a .427/.478/.756 line with six home runs and 14 RBI over that stretch. This month, he has been one of the most productive hitters in baseball, tying for the major league lead in total bases with 38 while ranking second in batting average at .432 and hits with 19, and third in slugging percentage at .864 and OPS at 1.343.
De La Cruz’s 26th home run of the season also gave him a new Reds single-season record for a switch-hitter, breaking his own mark of 25 from 2024. He is now five stolen bases from becoming the first Red and only the eighth player since 1900 to post at least 30 steals in each of his first four seasons.
He has also done serious damage against left-handed pitching, leading all qualified major-league hitters with a .349 batting average, .651 slugging percentage and 1.065 OPS against lefties this season.
“It means I’m doing good," De La Cruz told MLB.com's Mark Sheldon earlier this month. "I’m putting a lot of work in here before I go out there. I’ve just got to execute.”
With De La Cruz and Sal Stewart showing what the top of a future lineup can look like, the next challenge for Cincinnati is clear: the front office has to build around them.
In Other News...
Terry Franconas Reds Future Suddenly Feels Bigger Than This Season
Terry Franconas arrival in Cincinnati was always going to be about more than one season, but the discussion around his future is already stretching beyond the immediate push on the field. He has a guaranteed year left on his contract, along with a club option for 2028, and team president Nick Krall made it clear the Reds expect to keep talking with him about where this goes next.
Francona has also given the front office every reason to treat him like a long-term fit. He recently picked up his 2,103rd managerial win, and his relationship with the Reds brass has been described as strong, which matters in a job where trust can shape everything from roster planning to clubhouse tone. For now, Francona is focused on continuing to manage, but the fact that his future is already part of the conversation says plenty about how the organization views him. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Fans Just Got A Clearer Picture Of Who Controls 2027
Nick Krall gave Reds fans a little more clarity about the clubs long-term direction, saying he expects himself, the front office staff and the manager to be back for the 2027 season. For a team still sorting through its identity, that matters because it suggests continuity at the top even as the roster has lagged behind the rest of the division and the organization keeps trying to build around a small core of young players.
Krall also took responsibility for the clubs poor performance, a notable admission for a franchise that has spent much of this stretch looking for traction. Cincinnati has some financial flexibility to work with, but any plan to use it will have to account for a thin roster and the possibility of an offseason lockout, which could complicate how aggressively the Reds can reshape things before 2027 arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers And Rays Just Exposed The Reds Biggest Front Office Problem
The Reds keep finding themselves in the same conversation with the Brewers and Rays, two smaller-market clubs that have again shown how much can be done with sharp player development, disciplined roster building and a clear plan. Cincinnati has talent worth paying attention to, with names like Elly De La Cruz, Sal Stewart and Chase Burns giving the organization a real foundation, but the broader question is whether the people steering the ship are matching that upside with enough urgency and creativity.
For now, the expectation is that the current decision-makers will remain in place, even after another playoff outcome that leaves plenty of room for second-guessing. That matters because the critique around this front office is not about one move or one bad week, but about how the club uses its resources, how it chooses to spend and trade, and whether it can build a roster with the same kind of efficiency that keeps Milwaukee and Tampa Bay in the postseason picture. [Read more 🡒]