Christian Encarnacion-Strand wasn't the only Reds player to catch fire vs. D-backs

Cincinnati Reds infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand turned Great American Ball Park into his own personal playground over the weekend. The slugger made his triumphant return to the Reds lineup and promptly clubbed three home runs while going 7-for-14 at the dish. His game-winning double on Saturday against the Arizona Diamondbacks also helped to set the tone for the entire series.

But Encarnacion-Strand was not the only Reds player who enjoyed a resurgence during the D-backs' visit over the weekend. Matt McLain, who'd been mired a slump for quite some time, emerged from the ashes and finally showed signs of life.

During the Reds' three-game sweep of the D-backs in Cincinnati, McLain went 4-for-12 with a home run and three RBI. His two-run blast off Arizona starter Zac Gallen chased the right-hander from the game and broke the 2-2 tie. The Reds need more of that 1-2 punch from Encarnacion-Strand and McLain during the team's upcoming road trip.

Reds infielders Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Matt McLain caught fire vs. D-backs

After the 2023 season, it seemed clearer than ever that the quartet of Encarnacion-Strand, McLain, Elly De La Cruz, and Noelvi Marte would be at the core of the Reds organization moving forward. But injuries to Encarnacion-Strand and McLain, plus Marte's 80-game suspension left De La Cruz as the team's only success story last season.

Encarnacion-Strand was bitten the injury bug early this season, and so was Marte. McLain had been striking out at an unsustainable rate and was also being bumped down to No. 9 in the Reds batting order. De La Cruz was once again left to steer the ship all by his lonesome, but even his heroics have not been enough to keep Cincinnati in NL Central playoff picture this season.

But perhaps this recent surge from Encarnacion-Strand and McLain is a sign of things to come. While Marte is still nursing an injury, having three of the "Core Four" heating up could be enough to keep the Reds in contention.

Cincinnati is currently 4½ games back in the NL Wild Card chase, but the Reds face a gauntlet in the coming weeks. The Reds have a nine-game stretch against the AL Central's best trips to play Cleveland Guardians and Detroit Tigers before returning home for three games against the Minnesota Twins. Cincy then gets three games against the St. Louis Cardinals before playing the AL East-leading New York Yankees.

If the Reds have any hope of surviving the upcoming schedule, Encarnacion-Strand, McLain, and De La Cruz will have to be on top of their game. On the season, McLain is hitting just .187/.283/.318, but since the calendar flipped to June, he's posted a .278/.381/.500 slash line. That's the version of McLain the Reds need to help flip the script on what' been a frustrating season thus far.

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