Cincinnati’s inability to deliver in clutch moments is threatening their season.
By Abigail Miskowiec | June 6, 2025
Terry Francona entered the 2025 season determined to bring fundamentals back to the forefront in Cincinnati — emphasizing smart baserunning, disciplined plate appearances, and sound defense. In several areas, the Reds have made real progress. Their on-base percentage and batting average on balls in play have improved significantly from last season. But in the one situation Francona values most — hitting with runners in scoring position — the Reds are falling flat.
Since May, Cincinnati ranks dead last in Major League Baseball in OPS with runners in scoring position, posting a dismal .587. That figure reflects the worst on-base and slugging percentages in the league in those moments, meaning Reds hitters aren’t grinding out at-bats or producing impactful hits when it matters most. Unsurprisingly, the Reds are just 14-18 during that span.
RISP Failures Are Dragging the Reds Down
Only three Reds hitters currently rank in the top 150 in MLB OPS with runners in scoring position (minimum 30 plate appearances): Austin Hays, Elly De La Cruz, and TJ Friedl. By contrast, the division-rival Cubs have six players in the top 25. Hays leads Cincinnati with a solid .859 OPS, but frequent injuries have kept him out of the lineup. Friedl, more often setting the table than hitting with men on base, still contributes with a strong .393 OBP.
That leaves much of the burden on De La Cruz, who ranks among the league leaders in plate appearances with RISP — trailing only Pete Alonso and Rafael Devers. But the pressure has taken a toll: he’s struck out in nearly one-third of those chances, and his slash line of .246/.361/.464 in those moments pales in comparison to Devers’ dominant .361/.495/.681.
If the trend continues, it could derail the Reds’ season. The 2023 White Sox posted a league-worst .605 OPS with RISP and finished with one of the worst records in baseball. The Reds are flirting with even worse numbers. No MLB team has finished a season with a sub-.600 OPS in scoring situations since at least 2015 — and that’s not a list anyone wants to join.
Hope on the Horizon — But the Clock Is Ticking
Cincinnati is still clinging to a .702 overall OPS for the season, a sign that the offense has potential. Getting Hays healthy would be a boost. A bounce-back from Matt McLain — who slugged .726 with RISP in 2023 — or Christian Encarnacion-Strand, who posted a .993 OPS in those situations last year, could also change the trajectory.
But whether it’s De La Cruz breaking through or another bat stepping up, one thing is clear: if the Reds want to compete in 2025, they must start delivering when it counts most.
