By MIKE ROBERTS
Unfortunately, it was another rough week for the Cincinnati Reds. Although they took two of three from the Pittsburgh Pirates, clinching their first series win over a National League Central division rival this season (yes, really), they lost three out of four games against the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers. The 40-46 Reds remain in last place in the NL Central, losing more ground and trailing by 13.5 games.
Things aren’t looking great for this struggling Cincinnati squad as the All-Star break approaches, but it’s not all doom and gloom. Here are four individual awards pertaining to this past week.
Top Hitter
Cincinnati’s Sal Stewart (.257 AVG., .806 OPS, 16 HR, 59 RBI, 11 SB) started the season red-hot, looking like he was on his way to not only a Rookie of the Year award, but an MVP award as well. However, he cooled down significantly. Stewart looked really good this past week, though, recording at least one hit in each of the three games against the Pirates and all four contests in the Milwaukee series. In his past seven games, Stewart is hitting .333 with three home runs, five RBIs, and a .700 slugging percentage.
Of those three home runs, two came against the Brewers, including a solo shot off a 102.3 mph fastball off Milwaukee ace Jacob Misiorowski on Thursday afternoon, marking the fastest pitch a Reds player has connected on for a home run. Cincinnati won that game 7-2, avoiding a four-game sweep by Milwaukee.
Stewart was responsible for the Reds’ first two runs during Saturday’s 9-7 victory over Pittsburgh. In the first inning, he swatted a 372-foot homer over the right-field wall before coming through with a two-out single in the third, which drove in Jose Trevino (.192 AVG., .438 OPS, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 0 SB).
Top Starting Pitcher
This award goes to Chase Burns (10-1, 2.40 ERA, 1.08 WHIP). What a shocker, right?! The possible future All-Star struggled against the Pirates in a non-decision Saturday. Despite recording 10 strikeouts, he allowed nine hits and five runs.
However, Burns bounced back big-time, picking up a win against the Brewers on Thursday. He allowed four hits, two runs, two walks, and struck out four batters during his six innings on the mound, helping the Reds avoid an embarrassing sweep. The talented Burns continues to be one of the few bright spots for the Reds this year.
The starting rotation is about to get a major boost, with the news that Hunter Greene is going to be activated on Saturday against Baltimore.
Bullpen MVP
This award goes to Caleb Ferguson (1-0, 1.76 ERA, 1.30 WHIP), who posted his first save of the season to get the job done on Friday in a 6-4 victory against the Pirates. The Ohio native didn’t disappoint as he allowed just one hit and struck out a batter on the way to his first save of the 2026 season. Then, on Saturday, Ferguson got his first win of the year. He has been reliable in almost every outing he has made for Cincinnati this season.
The bullpen also got some good news within the past week — specifically on Tuesday when the regular closer Emilio Pagan (2-1, 6.28 ERA, 1.40 WHIP) was activated. Pagan had been sidelined since May 5 with a strained left hamstring.
Biggest Hero
Slugger Eugenio Suarez (.207 AVG., .648 OPS, 8 HR, 29 RBI, 0 SB) was clutch in Saturday’s win over Pittsburgh, launching a three-run home run off Gregory Soto to give Cincinnati a two-run lead in the top of the ninth inning. The Reds signed Suarez this past offseason, hoping he’d provide power to the lineup. While he hasn’t necessarily played like a prime Ken Griffey, Jr. so far this year, the former Seattle Mariner sends one over the fence often enough.
Honorable mention hero status goes to Noelvi Marte (.200 AVG., .638 OPS, 5 HR, 9 RBI, 4 SB). The 24-year-old smacked a tie-breaking two-run homer during the top of the eighth inning that sent the Reds to that 6-4 victory over the Pirates on Friday.
Looking Ahead
Next up, the Reds will return home to play a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles, starting Friday, and a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies, beginning on Tuesday.
Here’s a look at the upcoming schedule, including TV information and probable pitchers:
Friday, 7/3: 7:10 PM, Reds.TV/MLB.TV, Trevor Rogers (BAL) (5-7, 4.99 ERA, 1.31 WHIP) vs. Brady Singer (CIN) (3-7, 5.12 ERA, 1.54 WHIP)
Saturday, 7/4: 7:10 PM, Reds.TV/MLB.TV, Brandon Young (BAL) (6-2, 3.11 ERA, 1.30 WHIP) vs. Hunter Greene (7-4, 2.76 ERA, 0.94 WHIP)
Sunday, 7/5: 1:05 PM, MLB.TV/Peacock, Kyle Bradish (BAL) (5-8, 3.77 ERA, 1.45 WHIP) vs. Nick Lodolo (CIN) (2-2, 5.05 ERA, 1.47 WHIP)
Tuesday, 7/7: 7:10 PM, Reds.TV/MLB.TV, TBD (PHI) vs. TBD (CIN)
Wednesday, 7/8: 7:10 PM, ESPN/MLB.TV, TBD (PHI) vs. TBD (CIN)
Thursday, 7/9: 7:10 PM, Reds.TV/MLB.TV, TBD (PHI) vs. TBD (CIN)