Matt McLain -- Performance Analysis

The Cincinnati Reds have made a deliberate strategic choice to prioritize defensive excellence in their infield, evidenced by the acquisition of third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes from Pittsburgh at the trade deadline. However, this approach has created an unusual roster construction: two of the team's regular infielders—Hayes at third base and Matt McLain at shortstop—are among the weakest hitters in Major League Baseball.

McLain, currently sporting a 76 wRC+ over 720 plate appearances since the start of 2025, ranks second-worst among 116 MLB players with at least 650 plate appearances. Hayes is even worse, with a 55 wRC+—the lowest on that leaderboard. Despite these offensive shortcomings, Hayes has been the sixth-best defender at his position according to FanGraphs metrics, justifying the Reds' investment in his glove.

Both players experienced sharp declines from their 2023 performances. That year, Hayes posted a .271/.309/.453 line with 15 homers and a 101 wRC+ for Pittsburgh, accumulating 3.2 fWAR. McLain had an even more impressive debut season, hitting .290/.357/.507 with identical 3.2 fWAR in 403 plate appearances. The Reds appear to be banking that the combined defensive output of these two positions—anchored by star shortstop Elly De La Cruz's strong production—can offset the offensive production gap, though having two of baseball's lightest-hitting regulars batting together daily remains an unavoidable challenge.

Matt McLain delivered a strong performance in the Cincinnati Reds' 15-1 series finale victory over the Washington Nationals on May 14, 2026, hitting a two-run home run at 104 mph and a double at 102.2 mph. He finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a walk, continuing a hot stretch that has seen him post a .292/.393/.500 slash line with six RBIs and three extra-base hits over his last seven games while walking more than striking out. The performance marks a potential turnaround for McLain, who was a promising cornerstone of the Reds' young core, posting a 3.6 WAR with 16 home runs and a 127 OPS+ during his 2023 rookie season and finishing fifth in Rookie of the Year voting. However, McLain has struggled significantly since, posting an OPS+ of 72 in 2025 and 71 this season before his recent hot streak. With McLain's struggles, speculation has emerged about Edwin Arroyo, who has dominated in Triple-A this season, potentially serving as a replacement at second base.