By MIKE ROBERTS
The Cincinnati Reds had a bad week, which wasn’t a surprise considering they faced the teams with the two best records in baseball: the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers. The Reds lost two of three to Milwaukee and have dropped two of three in their series with L.A.
Now at 71-81, the Reds remain in last place in the National League Central, a division the Brewers already have clinched. As the Reds play out the final games of a long, frustrating season, here are three positives from the past week.
Avoiding a Series Sweep Against the Brewers
The previous week, the Reds picked up their first home series win versus the Brewers since 2022. But this past week, Milwaukee got the better of the matchup yet again
C’mon Reds, what’s so hard about beating the Brewers? It’s not like they own the top record in the majors and are a legitimate World Series contender.
Oh wait… they are.
In Friday’s opener against the two ball clubs, Cincinnati was absolutely pounded by the Brewers 20-0. The Reds were much more competitive the next day, though, losing 13-9.
Then in Sunday’s series finale, the Reds came through with a 4-3 victory. Avoiding a sweep is always positive. And it’s fun to see them keep a team like the Brewers in check, even if it was for only one game.
Eugenio Suárez’s Recent Surge
The Reds signed Suárez (.211 AVG, .735 OPS, 24 HR, 68 RBI, 1 SB) to a one-year deal during the offseason to provide the team with some power. Suárez, who hit 49 home runs for the Seattle Mariners in 2025, was supposed to help Cincinnati return to the playoffs, but it just hasn’t worked out.
The Reds placed Suárez on waivers in late August but he went unclaimed and awkwardly had to remain in Cincinnati.
Still, Suárez looked like a star during the Brewers series. He had three hits, a home run, and two RBIs in Saturday‘s loss. And then he was the hero in Sunday’s victory with three RBIs and homering for the second consecutive game.
Brito Looks Promising
Cincinnati acquired infielder Juan Brito (.238 AVG, .683 OPS, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 1 SB) from the Cleveland Guardians at this year’s trade deadline. The 24-year-old then played 22 games with Triple-A Louisville after joining the Reds’ organization.
The Reds called up Brito to the big leagues when the roster expanded earlier this month. He has received some meaningful playing time and is making the most of this opportunity, recording a hit in each of the past five games. He went 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs in Saturday’s loss to Milwaukee, and had another three-hit outing in Wednesday night’s 6-2 win over the Dodgers.
Matt McLain (.186 AVG, .619 OPS, 15 HR, 39 RBI, 17 SB) is still under team control through 2029. But with Brito serving as a switch hitter, he and McLain could platoon at second base in 2027. And who knows, maybe Brito, who’s been playing exceptionally well, could eventually replace McLain and become a star in Cincinnati.
Looking Ahead
Next up, the Reds finish their series with the Dodgers on Thursday before a three-game series at home against the Chicago Cubs, starting on Friday, followed by an off day, then three-game series on the road with the Atlanta Braves starting Tuesday.
Here’s a look at the upcoming schedule, including TV information and probable pitchers:
- Thursday, 9/17: 12:40 PM, Reds.TV/MLB.TV, Justin Wrobleski (LA) (11-5, 3.78 ERA, 1.16 WHIP) vs. Brady Singer (CIN) (6-14, 5.38 ERA, 1.51 WHIP)
- Friday, 9/18: 6:40 PM, Reds.TV/MLB.TV, TBD (CHC) vs. Chase Burns (CIN) (15-3, 2.80 ERA, 1.15 WHIP)
- Saturday, 9/19: 6:40 PM, Reds.TV/MLB.TV, TBD (CHC) vs. Nick Lodolo (CIN) (3-5, 5.12 ERA, 1.49 WHIP)
- Sunday, 9/20: 1:40 PM, Reds.TV/MLB.TV, TBD (CHC) vs. Rhett Lowder (CIN) (6-10, 5.81 ERA, 1.53 WHIP)
- Tuesday, 9/22: 7:15 PM, Reds.TV/MLB.TV, TBD (CIN) vs. TBD (ATL)
- Wednesday, 9/23: 7:15 PM, Reds.TV/MLB.TV, TBD (CIN) vs. TBD (ATL)
- Thursday, 9/24: 7:15PM, Reds.TV/MLB.TV/FS1, TBD (CIN)) vs. TBD (ATL)