Reds could solve roster puzzle in a way that leaves Matt McLain exposed

Things have been brutal for the Cincinnati Reds of late while taking on some of their top NL Central rivals in the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs. That kind of misery against chief competition will start leading you to question everything, and for Terry Francona, the leash for underperformers like Matt McLain needs to be shortened by the minute.

McLain was the king of the spring, but as soon as the games started to count, his bat withered. The 26-year-old has been even worse than he was last season, when he said his recovery from shoulder surgery hindered his performance. We were assured that the shoulder wouldn't be an impediment in 2026, so we're left to draw another conclusion. He might just not be good enough to play every day.

Fueling the notion that McLain should be replaced in the lineup is the sizzling performance of top prospect Edwin Arroyo down in Louisville. Arroyo has had to overcome his own shoulder troubles in the past, but now at the Triple-A level, he's hitting the cover off the ball.

That's led some to call for him to get the call to replace McLain in the lineup, but the 30-plus games Arroyo has played at Louisville this season are the entirety of his Triple-A experience. It's better to bring along a talented youngster slowly than force the issue and potentially stunt his growth.

Instead, Eugenio Suarez progressing towards a return from his oblique injury could set up a domino effect where, through a series of moves, Sal Stewart supplants McLain at second base.

Reds could bury Matt McLain when Eugenio Suarez returns from the IL

We've already begun to see Stewart eat into McLain's playing time at second. Over the last several games, the rookie has started over the third-year second baseman at the keystone. Terry Francona might say that there's nothing to read into here, but that just might be because the other shoe hasn't fallen yet.

One nice thing about this Cincinnati roster is that they've acquired a lot of depth. It's set up something of a domino effect that doesn't require the club to rush a top prospect like Arroyo in order to make a change with a struggling veteran.

Right now, JJ Bleday is on fire since his April 25 call-up. That's made an already crowded outfield situation even more congested. Fortunately, the Reds also have a lot of versatile players.

Bleday in the outfield means more Spencer Steer, and potentially Nathaniel Lowe at first base. Lowe has been the primary DH in Suarez's absence, and the club should look to keep his bat in the lineup as much as possible.

The only way to keep Bleday, Lowe, Steer, Stewart, and Suarez in the lineup at the same time would be to play Steer or Lowe at first with the other taking the DH spot, which would mean Suarez playing third, and Stewart playing second. Bleday would then be clear to roam left without having to worry about competing for playing time with Steer.

We're already seeing the experimentation with this, as Stewart has gotten those recent reps at second over McLain. At the end of the day, it might not be the Reds' most defense-forward lineup with McLain (and also Ke'Bryan Hayes) on the bench more often than not, but it would be the most potent they can put forth day in and day out.

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