By MIKE ROBERTS
It was an impressive week for the Cincinnati Reds. Isn’t it refreshing to hear that for a change?! The team took two of three from both the Chicago Cubs and the San Diego Padres and is now 24-21 since the All-Star break. However, the 67-73 Reds are still in last place in the National League Central, trailing the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers by 19.5 games in the standings, with no shot at the playoffs.
Here are three things that should make Cincinnati fans excited as we head into the final month of the season.
Beating the Cubbies
Every Reds fan loves to see their team beat the Cubs. While Reds vs. Cubs isn’t exactly on the same level as Yankees vs. Red Sox, it’s still one of baseball’s most heated rivalries.
During Cincinnati’s previous trip to Wrigley Field, back in early May, the Reds suffered a four-game sweep, which closed out an embarrassing 0-7 road trip that also included a 3-0 sweep in Pittsburgh. Then the Reds later lost two out of three to the Cubbies in Cincinnati in July.
However, Cincy got a little bit of revenge this past weekend, taking two of three from the Cubs in Chicago. It was the Reds’ first series win at Wrigley Field since 2024.
In Sunday’s 7-5 win over Chicago, the Reds set a new franchise record for the most four-home-run games in a single season with their 12th such game. Also in that contest, the Reds became the first team in MLB history to have a hitter under 25 with 30 home runs and 100 RBIs (Sal Stewart), another hitter under 25 with 20 homers and 20 steals (Elly De La Cruz), and a pitcher under 25 with 15 wins (Chase Burns), all in the same season.
The Reds have one more crack at the Cubs, hosting them for a three-game set starting Friday, Sept. 18.
Sal Stewart Is Phenomenal
We’re just gonna say it. It’s a travesty if NL Rookie of the Year doesn’t go to Stewart (.266 AVG., .821 OPS, 31 HR, 105 RBI, 12 SB). Already named an All-Star, Stewart is having one of the best seasons of any rookie position player, ever. Recently, he joined Ted Williams (1939) and Jose Canseco (1986) as the only rookies in MLB history to be the first player in a season to reach 100 RBIs. Not the first rookie to 100 RBIs, the first overall player in all of the majors.
Stewart has also become one of a few rookies in history who’ve recorded at least 30 home runs and 100 RBI in a single season. Albert Pujols (2001), Jose Abreu (2014), Aaron Judge (2017), and Pete Alonso (2019) are the others.
Héctor Rodríguez Has Turned Things Around
Top Reds prospect Héctor Rodríguez (.240 AVG, .785 OPS, 5 HR, 11 RBI, 0 SB) was called up in early August after overperforming in Triple-A for most of the season. The 22-year-old hit .274 with an .880 OPS, 27 home runs and 69 RBIs in 104 games with Louisville.
Unfortunately, though, H-Rod got off to a horrible start in Cincinnati, hitting just .118 with a .336 OPS through his first 12 games. Not good at all.
Thankfully, Rodriguez has found his groove, as he has recorded 10 hits, including four home runs over the last eight games. He was huge in last Wednesday‘s 10-9 comeback win over the San Francisco Giants with three hits and two homers.
Building around talented young players like De La Cruz, Burns, Stewart, and Rodriguez, the Reds appear to have an exciting future.
Looking Ahead
Next up, the Reds will continue their homestand with an absolutely brutal stretch: three-game series against the first-place Brewers beginning on Friday, before heading out west for a three-game series against the two-time World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, which starts on Monday.
Here’s a look at the upcoming schedule, including TV information and probable pitchers:
- Friday, 9/4: 6:10 PM, Reds.TV/MLB.TV, TBD (MIL) vs. Rhett Lowder (CIN) (6-8, 5.14 ERA, 1.46 WHIP)
- Saturday, 9/5: 6:40 PM, Reds.TV/MLB.TV, TBD (MIL) (6-9, 4.69 ERA, 1.32 WHIP) vs. Andrew Abbott (CIN) (6-10, 4.49 ERA, 1.44 WHIP)
- Sunday, 9/6: 12:10 PM, Reds.TV/MLB.TV, TBD (MIL) (10-4, 3.45 ERA, 1.20 WHIP) vs. Brady Singer (CIN) (5-13, 4.83 ERA, 1.45 WHIP)
- Monday, 9/7: 9:10 PM, Reds.TV//MLB.TV, TBD (CIN) vs. TBD (LA)
- Tuesday, 9/8: 10:10 PM, Reds.TV/MLB.TV, TBD (CIN) vs. TBD (LA)
- Wednesday, 9/9: 10:10 PM, Reds.TV/MLB.TV, TBD (CIN) vs. TBD (LA)