Matt McLain Has Vanished — And So Might the Reds’ Playoff Hopes If This Keeps Up
Let’s not sugarcoat this: Matt McLain is a ghost.
Once the poster child for Cincinnati’s youth-driven resurgence, he now looks lost — at the plate, in the box scores, and on the lineup card. A player who once looked like a future All-Star now looks like someone desperately clinging to a roster spot. And for a Reds team with October aspirations, the stakes are rising fast.
This isn’t a cold streak. This is a full-blown crisis.
The Collapse, By the Numbers
McLain’s 2025 season has been a nosedive from the very first pitch. Through June 1, he’s slashing an anemic .175/.269/.564. Yes, six home runs — but let’s not pretend that makes up for everything else. When nearly one out of every three plate appearances ends in a strikeout (31.1%, to be exact), there’s no sugar to coat that bitterness.
It gets uglier.
Over his last six games, McLain has recorded one hit. One. In a lineup loaded with speed and firepower, he’s become the automatic out — the rally-killer, the black hole. If you’re wondering how a team that was supposed to take the NL Central by storm suddenly looks pedestrian, start here.
From Cornerstone to Afterthought
It wasn’t supposed to be like this. McLain was *the guy* — the disciplined bat who balanced Elly De La Cruz’s electricity with consistency. A No. 2 hitter who could spray the ball to all fields, grind at-bats, and make life miserable for opposing pitchers.
Now? That role belongs to Santiago Espinal — a serviceable journeyman who does all the little things well but was never supposed to carry this kind of load. The switch wasn’t subtle. It was survival.
Espinal may not light up Statcast, but at least he puts the ball in play. At least he competes. Right now, McLain doesn’t even do that. Pitchers are exploiting him, and he has no answer. Fastballs up? He’s late. Breaking balls away? He’s flailing. And the confidence? That’s long gone.
A Team Running Out of Time
The Reds aren’t built to wait. This is a team in win-now mode, whether it admits it or not. The division is winnable. The young core is electric. The fanbase is engaged. But they can’t carry passengers — and right now, that’s exactly what McLain is.
The truth is brutal: if he weren’t a former first-round pick and a central figure in the Reds’ future plans, this kind of performance would send most players straight to Triple-A. But he’s getting the benefit of the doubt — for now.
What Happened?
That’s the million-dollar question.
Was it a mechanical breakdown? Is he hurt and hiding it? Has the league simply adjusted, and he hasn’t caught up? No one’s saying much publicly, but the dugout glances and postgame tones say plenty. This is no slump. This is a player who has lost his identity at the plate — and with every passing game, the Reds lose a little more patience.
Can He Save It?
Here’s the good news: baseball is weird. Redemption is always one game away. McLain has the talent. We’ve seen it. He doesn’t need to hit .300 — he just needs to contribute. Compete. Be something more than an automatic out.
Because if he doesn’t? The Reds have a choice to make. Sentiment can’t come before winning. Not anymore.
This team’s window is open. But if Matt McLain doesn’t find himself soon, the Reds may be forced to close the door — on both him and their October dreams.
Once a Rising Star, Matt McLain Now Fights to Keep His Spot in Reds Lineup
From Lineup Staple to Lineup Shuffle
For much of last season, McLain looked like a natural No. 2 hitter — a guy who could put pressure on pitchers with contact, hustle, and situational awareness. But as his struggles mounted, Reds manager David Bell was forced to make a change.
Enter Santiago Espinal.
No, Espinal isn’t flashy. He’s not going to slug .500 or turn heads on highlight reels. But he’s been steady — something the Reds desperately need right now. His ability to put the ball in play, move runners, and avoid strikeouts has quietly made him a better fit near the top of the lineup, at least for the moment.
“We need quality at-bats,” Bell said recently. “Right now, Santiago gives us that. Matt will work his way back, but we’re going with what gives us the best chance to win today.”
A Glimmer of Hope?
It’s not all doom and gloom. McLain remains just 25 years old, and his pedigree as a first-round pick and former college standout still holds weight. He hit .290 with 16 home runs in just 89 games last season. The talent hasn’t vanished — but the timing and confidence clearly have.
For the Reds to stay in the thick of the NL Central race, they need McLain to find himself again — not in August or September, but now. Because behind the exciting trio of Elly De La Cruz, Spencer Steer, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand, the supporting cast has thinned. The margin for error is slimmer than ever.
McLain doesn’t have to be the star. But he can’t be a liability. Not on a team with playoff aspirations.
The Road Back
Baseball can be cruel. It tests confidence in ways few sports do. But it also offers daily redemption. A three-hit game, a clutch double, a moment that flips the narrative — that’s all it takes to get back on track.
For now, McLain finds himself at the bottom of the order, trying to piece together at-bats, rediscover his rhythm, and earn his way back. The Reds still believe in him — but belief only goes so far. Production has to follow.
