Matt McLain returns amid a flurry of Reds roster moves to help jumpstart the lineup

As expected the Cincinnati Reds made a flurry of roster moves ahead of their upcoming series against the Seattle Mariners. After placing Sam Moll on the 15-day injured list with a shoulder impingement on Monday, the Reds already had an opening on the active roster and needed an extra reliever in the bullpen before their clash against the Mariners.

Alexis Diaz will take Moll's spot in the Reds bullpen after being activated on Tuesday afternoon. Diaz had begun the 2025 season on the IL due to a hamstring injury. The Reds also activated Matt McLain and Austin Hays from the IL — something that should help to jumpstart the offense. In order to make enough room on the 26-man roster, both Jacob Hurtubise and Noelvi Marte were sent back to Triple-A Louisville.

Most Reds fans expected to see Hurtubise sent back to the minor leagues. He'd been used as little more than a pinch-runner and defensive replacement late in games since earning his way onto the Reds Opening Day roster. Optioning Marte is a bit of surprise, though it does show a level of confidence in the trio of Spencer Steer, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, and Jeimer Candelario, all of whom have struggled to begin the season.

Reds activate Matt McLain and Austin Hays from IL ahead of series vs. Mariners

McLain had been sidelined with a mild hamstring strain during the Reds' previous road trip, but his timeline for a return was always expected to be short. Unlike Hays, McLain did not require a rehab assignment, and will surely be back in Terry Francona's starting lineup on Tuesday night.

Hays suffered a calf injury just before Opening Day and began the season on the IL. Thankfully one of the Reds' biggest free agent acquisitions this offseason is now ready to take the field and bring some much needed pop to Cincinnati's lineup. Francona said before the season that he planned to bat Hays in the cleanup spot behind Elly De La Cruz.

While the Reds are undoubtedly happy to have McLain and Hays back in the lineup, there's still one regular missing from Cincinnati's active roster. Starting catcher Tyler Stephenson was shelved before the start of the season with an oblique injury. The Reds' QB1 is slowly working back into baseball shape and could return to the roster in the next couple of weeks.

More Cincinnati Reds News and Rumors