The Cincinnati Reds haven’t won a playoff series since 1995, the longest active streak among the big four professional sports in America. Currently in last place in the National League Central with a 2-11 record over their last 13 games, the Reds are struggling in 2024, marking their third rebuild in 12 years.
This season has seen significant injuries for the Reds. Matt McLain, their best player in 2023, hasn’t played a game and might only return for the final month. Brandon Williamson recently began a rehab stint after being out since March. TJ Friedl has played sporadically due to a broken wrist and a recent broken thumb. Noelvi Marte’s 80-game suspension for a failed PED test has further compounded the team’s woes.
The Reds’ roster has not performed as expected. Only two everyday players, Elly De La Cruz and Spencer Steer, are hitting above average. Semi-regular players Tyler Stephenson and Jake Fraley also have an OPS+ over 100. While Jeimer Candelario started poorly, he has improved in May. However, many players, including Will Benson, Jonathan India, and several bench players, have underperformed significantly.
Offensively, the Reds are 29th in batting average, 25th in on-base percentage, 24th in slugging percentage, and 28th in OPS+. They have excelled on the bases, which has slightly boosted their run-scoring, but they remain below average in this regard.
The bullpen has also struggled, with closer Alexis Diaz posting a 6.75 ERA and others like Justin Wilson and Lucas Sims also underperforming. While the bullpen has been average in terms of runs allowed, the offensive struggles have magnified the impact of every run they concede.
With the team in a downturn, changes seem necessary. However, the solutions are not straightforward. Players need to perform better, but achieving this is complex. While firing the manager could signal that the current performance is unacceptable, David Bell’s long-term contract makes this unlikely. The coaching staff might see changes if the team doesn’t improve quickly.
Optioning struggling players like Will Benson and Jonathan India to the minors is possible, but replacements in Triple-A are limited and mostly older. Livan Soto is a potential call-up, but his minor league track record is not particularly strong.
In the bullpen, the Reds have limited options due to roster constraints. Sam Moll was recently optioned despite performing well, highlighting the team’s difficult decisions.
The front office and manager publicly maintain that the team is playing well, despite poor results. This stance doesn’t sit well with fans, especially given the franchise’s long playoff drought. The Reds need to find solutions soon to address their performance issues and satisfy their fan base.
