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McLain is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Atlanta.
After going 0-for-2 with a walk in Saturday's 5-2 loss, the struggling McLain will head back to the bench for the third time in four games. The Reds will go with Spencer Steer at the keystone over McLain, who appears to be fading into more of a part-time role in the Cincinnati infield.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Handed night off
Rotowire
McLain is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mets.
The Reds will give Spencer Steer a look at second base while McLain takes a seat after starting in the team's last three games. Though McLain has most commonly been deployed out of the No. 2 spot this season, he's made his last two starts as the Reds' No. 9 hitter while manager Terry Francona has handed the hot-hitting Blake Dunn more opportunities near the top of the lineup. McLain's slide down the batting order coincides with him recording just three hits and striking out 11 times in 34 at-bats over his last eight games.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Idle for Game 1
Rotowire
McLain isn't in the lineup for the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against St. Louis.
McLain will begin Saturday's festivities on the bench after going just 1-for-14 with five strikeouts during Cincinnati's last series against the Phillies. Spencer Steer will shift to second base in McLain's stead, opening up first base for Nathaniel Lowe.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Moves up order
Rotowire
McLain batted leadoff and went 0-for-5 with an RBI in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Phillies.
McLain had spent a good portion of May in the bottom third of the order, but a productive 11-game stretch (1.067 OPS, three HR, 10 RBI) prompted manager Terry Francona to put him atop the order the last two games, once each against a lefty and righty. Although it didn't work out Tuesday, the manager has noodled around with various leadoff options after seemingly moving away from the slumping TJ Friedl. McLain was a staple and thrived in the upper third of the order when he first arrived to the big leagues in 2023.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Logs three RBI vs. Cleveland
Rotowire
McLain went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer and an additional RBI during the Reds' 7-6 win over the Guardians on Friday.
McLain got the Reds on the board in the second inning after drawing a bases-loaded walk before extending his team's lead to 6-1 with a two-run homer in the eighth. McLain has been hot at the plate as of late, going 11-for-30 (.367) with three home runs, 10 RBI and six runs scored over his last nine games.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Clouts homer in win
Rotowire
McLain went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, a home run, two RBI and two additional runs scored in Thursday's 15-1 win over the Nationals.
McLain connected for his fourth home run of the season and has hit safely in seven of the last eight contests, going 9-for-27 with two homers and seven RBI. This production has come from the bottom third of the order, as McLain was dropped from the second spot in early May after posting a .195 average in his first 34 games of 2026.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Smacks homer Wednesday
Rotowire
McLain went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and an additional run scored during the Reds' 7-6 extra-inning loss to the Cubs on Wednesday.
McClain cut the Reds' deficit to 4-2 when he smacked a solo homer off Colin Rea in the fifth inning. The long ball broke McClain's six-game hitless streak (during which he went 0-for-17 with four strikeouts), and his home run Wednesday was his third of the season.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Dropped from starting nine Monday
Rotowire
McLain is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cubs.
After being dropped to the ninth spot in the batting order during Sunday's 1-0 loss to the Pirates, McLain will be left out of the lineup entirely as the Reds open a four-game set in Chicago. McLain might be losing hold of a regular starting role, as he's undoubtedly failed to meet expectations for the Reds and fantasy managers alike early on this season. The 26-year-old has produced a .195/.308/.293 slash line with two home runs, five steals, nine RBI and 13 runs through 34 games.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Sitting Saturday
Rotowire
McLain is not in the Reds' starting lineup against the Pirates on Saturday.
McLain has struggled at the plate as of late, having gone 3-for-24 (.125) with one steal, one RBI and 10 strikeouts over his last six games. He'll be on the bench for the start of Saturday's game while Sal Stewart starts at second base and bats in the cleanup spot.
McLain went 2-for-4 with a walk, two home runs and four RBI in Friday's 9-8 win over the Tigers.
McLain launched a pair of two-run homers in consecutive plate appearances -- in the fifth and seventh innings -- to bring the Reds back from an early 5-0 deficit. He emerged from an offensive malaise during Cincinnati's recently completed road trip, and McLain brought the offense home to Great American Ball Park on Friday. The second baseman has hit safely in five consecutive games, going 7-for-23 with four extra-base hits and five RBI.
McLain went 2-for-6 with an RBI double, a stolen base and one run scored in Tuesday's 12-6 win over the Rays.
After a big spring training, McLain has struggled at the plate to begin the 2026 campaign. Tuesday marked his first multi-hit game since April 9, and the second baseman is still looking for his first home run. He's hit safely in three straight games now and has doubled in both contests against the Rays to begin the week. McLain is slashing .198/.330/.256 with five doubles, four RBI, 10 runs scored, four stolen bases and a 15:25 BB:K across 103 trips to the plate. He's remained in the two hole in the Cincinnati lineup despite the early-season struggles.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Sitting Saturday
Rotowire
McLain isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Twins.
McLain will get a day off to reset after going 0-for-11 with five strikeouts and six walks over his last four games. His absence will put Sal Stewart at second base, opening up first for Nathaniel Lowe.
McLain isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Angels.
McLain will step out of the starting nine Saturday after going 0-for-4 to begin the series Friday. His absence will move Sal Stewart to second base while Nathaniel Lowe starts at first, batting sixth.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Lifts Reds late in win
Rotowire
McLain went 2-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI, a stolen base and a run scored in Tuesday's 6-3 extra-inning win over Miami.
Cincinnati was held scoreless through the first eight innings before tying it up in the ninth and winning it in the 10th. McLain had a hand in both innings. He doubled, stole a base and scored a run in the ninth and then doubled in a pair in the extra frame. The multi-hit game was McLain's third in the last five games.
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Reds' Matt McLain: Two more hits Saturday
Rotowire
McLain went 2-for-4 with a run scored in Saturday's 2-0 win over the Rangers.
McLain singled in the top of the first inning and came around to score on an RBI single from Elly De La Cruz. After snapping an 0-for-13 skid Friday, McLain is 4-for-9 through two games against Texas this weekend. He's now slashing .267/.389/.300 with just one extra-base hit, one RBI, three runs scored, and a 5:9 BB:K across 36 plate appearances to begin the 2026 season.
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