Matt McLain's spring surge puts Reds back at uncomfortable lineup crossroads

In order to truly transform the Cincinnati Reds offense, they don't just need protection for Elly De La Cruz; they also need table setters for him to drive in. With De La Cruz occupying the third spot in the order, the big question that remains unanswered so far is who should the No. 2 hitter be? If we're deciding based solely on early spring training results, the easy answer seems to be Matt McLain.

De La Cruz is the Reds' offensive engine. Their success at the plate depends not only on how De La Cruz performs, but also on how they directly support him. Making the puzzle pieces fit for maximum efficiency is imperative.

To that end, signing Eugenio Suarez and sliding his power bat behind De La Cruz in the lineup could have the superstar shortstop on an MVP-winning trajectory. That's half the battle, but in terms of maximizing production, another big question exists that doesn't have an answer... yet.

Matt McLain's red-hot spring could answer key Reds' lineup question

After last season's utter disappointment, it might seem strange to count on McLain in such a crucial spot in the lineup. Truth be told, spring training stats aren't all that indicative of regular-season performance, and much less so when they come in such a small sample as what we currently have to work with.

However, McLain is motivated to get back to his 2023 form, and the player who hits as he did in his rookie campaign is certainly one who would be qualified for the job. And since all we have to go on now are the spring stats, McLain's .571 batting average and three home runs over five games is definitely encouraging.

McLain has consistently been slotted as the Reds' No. 2 hitter throughout the spring and his performance moving forward will be incredibly important to keep an eye on.

As things currently stand, many of Cincinnati's other options for the job have yet to stand out. Noelvi Marte could be a prime candidate, but he's currently running a 33.3% strikeout rate with a .486 OPS. Spencer Steer could be another option, but he's hitting just .111 so far.

Using just spring stats, the top competitor McLain faces is prized-rookie Sal Stewart. Stewart has been nearly as hot as the third-year second baseman, batting .364/.462/.636 through five contests. If both continue their hot hitting, it might be a tough choice, but one has to imagine that all else being equal, Terry Francona wouldn't trust such an important job to a rookie right off the bat.

McLain held this role for much of last season and disappointed. But now, another year removed from shoulder surgery, he should be better. Or, at least, he's run out of excuses. The good news is that he's got plenty of motivation to prove his doubters wrong; now it's just a matter of getting the job done.