McLain will start at second base and bat eighth in Tuesday's game versus the White Sox.
McLain had occupied either the second spot (28 times) or leadoff spot (three times) in his first 31 starts this season, but with a .596 OPS and 31.7 percent strikeout rate, he's earned a trip to the lower third of the Reds' batting order. Santiago Espinal has been elevated to the two hole for Cincinnati.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Breaks homer drought Saturday
Rotowire
McLain went 1-for-3 with a stolen base, two-run home run and two additional runs scored in Saturday's 13-9 win over the Astros.
After drawing a bases-loaded walk in the first inning, McLain pushed the Reds' lead to 11 runs in the third with a two-run homer off Logan VanWey. It was McLain's fifth home run of the season, but his first since April 18 against the Orioles. He also managed to extend his on-base streak to 11 games, and over that span he has gone 8-for-41 with six stolen bases, six runs scored, one home run and four RBI.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Swipes ninth bag
Rotowire
McLain went 1-for-5 with a stolen base in Thursday's 5-4 extra-innings loss to Atlanta.
Soon after McLain's return from the injured list in mid-April, his average plummeted below the Mendoza Line and has stayed there. However, he is making the most of the times he does get on base. Over the last 11 contests, McLain is batting .190 (8-for-42) with six walks and six stolen bases. He's up to nine steals over 30 games on the season, putting him on pace to eclipse the career-high 14 steals he delivered in 2023. McLain's most prolific season in the minors was 2022, when he swiped 27 bags across 103 games at Double-A Chattanooga.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Swipes bag Sunday
Rotowire
McLain went 1-for-3 with a walk and a steal in Sunday's loss to the Nationals.
McLain walked and stole second base for his sixth steal of the year but otherwise had a quiet day along with most of the lineup. He's yet to find any sort of rhythm offensively since returning from a brief IL stint in mid-April and currently sits in the bottom 10 of qualified hitters with a 31 percent strikeout rate.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Snaps hitless run
Rotowire
McLain went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in Monday's 3-1 win over the Cardinals.
McLain's seventh-inning single was his first hit in a week. It ended an 0-for-21 stretch that dropped his average to .157. He's had bad luck early on, as McLain is in the top tier in barrel (18.6 percent, 94th percentile) and hard-hit (53.5, 90th) rates through 20 games. Over time, results begin to correct, which suggests McLain is due for a productive stretch.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Not starting Sunday
Rotowire
McLain is not in the Reds' starting lineup against the Rockies on Sunday.
McLain will take a seat for Sunday's series finale after going 0-for-18 with nine strikeouts over his last four games. Gavin Lux will start at the keystone and bat fifth against Rockies right-hander Ryan Feltner.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Smacks three-run homer
Rotowire
McLain went 1-for-4 with a three-run homer and an additional run scored in Friday's 8-3 win over the Orioles.
McLain belted a three-run homer off Cade Povich in the fourth inning, and the former came across home plate for an additional run in the sixth inning on an infield single by Austin Hays. It was McLain's fourth home run of the season and first since March 31 against the Rangers. He's slashing .205/.340/.538 with seven walks, two stolen bases, 11 runs scored and nine RBI across 47 plate appearances this season.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Exits starting nine
Rotowire
McLain is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Mariners.
McLain started the first two games upon his return from the 10-day injured list, but he'll get a breather for Thursday's series finale. Gavin Lux is at second base and batting fifth for the Reds on Thursday.
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Reds' Matt McLain: On base three times in return
Rotowire
McLain went 0-for-2 with three walks, an RBI and two runs scored in Tuesday's 8-4 win over the Mariners.
McLain was activated earlier in the day, returning to second base and second in the order. He scored each time after the first two walks, and then the final free pass came with the bases loaded. After opening the season with six hits in his first 19 at-bats, McLain is hitless over the last 11 and is batting .200.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Back from injured list
Rotowire
The Reds reinstated McLain (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list Tuesday.
The 25-year-old has been sidelined since April 4 due to the hamstring strain, but he's ready to rejoin the active roster after a brief stay on the injured list. Prior to the injury, McLain had yet to find much consistency with a .214 average through 31 plate appearances, though he flashed his power with three home runs.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Expected back when first eligible
Rotowire
Reds manager Terry Francona said Friday that he's pretty confident McLain (hamstring) will be ready for activation from the 10-day injured list when first eligible Tuesday, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.
McLain's placement on the IL earlier this week with a left hamstring strain seemed largely precautionary, so it's not terribly surprising that he's trending toward a minimum absence. It appears the infielder will skip a rehab assignment and go directly back into the Reds' lineup once activated.
The Reds placed McLain (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list Tuesday due to a left hamstring strain.
McLain was reportedly available off the bench Monday, but the Reds will instead err on the side of caution and give him more time to recover while on the injured list. He hasn't played since Saturday, so he'll be eligible to return from the IL in a week. While he's out, Santiago Espinal could benefit from increased playing time at second base, or the Reds could move Gavin Lux to the keystone from left field.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Available off bench Monday
Rotowire
McClain (hamstring) is not in the Reds' starting lineup against the Giants on Monday but is available off the bench, Pat Brennan of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
McClain will be out of the starting lineup for a fourth consecutive game due to left hamstring soreness, but he could be used as a pinch hitter Monday. Gavin Lux will start at second base and bat out of the cleanup spot against Giants right-hander Logan Webb.
McLain (hamstring) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.
The second baseman was scratched from the starting nine the past two days due to hamstring tightness, and while the Reds won't attempt to rush him back for Sunday's series finale in Milwaukee, he could be available off the bench. Santiago Espinal will start at the keystone and bat second in place of McLain.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Cleared to return Saturday
Rotowire
McLain (hamstring) is starting at DH and batting second against the Brewers on Saturday.
McLain was a late scratch Friday due to a hamstring injury, but he was able to log a plate appearance as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning. The 25-year-old shortstop is back in the lineup Saturday, suggesting that the hamstring issue isn't a major concern. The struggling Spencer Steer is getting the day off, allowing McLain to stay off his feet as the team's DH. Meanwhile, Santiago Espinal is starting at second base.
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Reds' Matt McLain: May be out Sunday
Rotowire
McLain (hamstring) may be held out of the Reds' lineup Sunday, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.
McLain doesn't appear to be dealing with a serious issue, though he was out of the lineup both Friday and Saturday after being a late scratch. Manager Terry Francona said the Reds will take a cautious approach as they don't want to force him into the lineup when he isn't at full strength, though he didn't go as far as to rule McLain out for Sunday's matchup against the Brewers.
