By MIKE ROBERTS
It was another week of not-so-legendary Cincinnati Reds baseball. Cincinnati (63-71) has now lost nine of its last 13 games and falls farther and farther behind in the basement of the National League Central. Heading into Thursday’s off day, the Reds trailed the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers by 19 games.
If you haven’t followed the team this past week (and really, we can’t blame you if you haven’t, the way things are going) here are three things you might’ve missed.
Spencer Steer Out for the Year
On Friday, it was announced that Reds infielder/outfielder Spencer Steer (.238 AVG, .319 OBP, .421 SLG, 16 HR, 14 2B) will miss the remainder of the 2026 season due to a wrist injury. It’s unclear, though, whether he’ll need surgery to repair the wrist. That decision will likely come in another few weeks when another exam takes place.
Steer’s slash line this season was almost identical to 2025 (.238 AVG, .312 OBP, .411 SLG, 21 HR, 21 2B, 2 3B).
While trade talks involving Steer may emerge during the offseason, it’s probably best for the Reds to keep him since he has been a key part of the team’s core.
Wild Night in the Desert
The Reds only got one win in their trip to Arizona to play the Diamondbacks series, but what a win it was.
On Saturday night, Cincy beat the Snakes 11-5 and JJ Bleday (.219 AVG, .769 OPS, 21 HR, 51 RBI, 6 SB) was the star of the show, hitting for the cycle in his first four at-bats. He became the first Reds player to hit for the cycle since Elly De La Cruz (.265 AVG, .818 OPS, 21 HR, 58 RBI, 23 SB) in 2023 against the Atlanta Braves and the first Red to accomplish the feat on the road since 1915!
Bleday was the league’s fourth player to hit for the cycle this season, joining the Chicago Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong, the Philadelphia Phillies’ Bryce Harper, and Tristan Peters of the Chicago White Sox.
De La Cruz had four hits in the win over Arizona, including a 450-foot home run, and was a triple shy of joining Bleday with a cycle. Rookie Héctor Rodríguez (.220, .731 OPS, 3 HR, 5 RBI) added his first career home run for the Reds, who finished with a whopping 16 hits to back starting pitcher Rhett Lowder (5-8, 5.13 ERA, 1.47 WHIP).
Sal Stewart’s Streak
With the Reds out of the playoff picture, it’s not always exciting to watch the team play this year. But at least fans get to see some talented young stars play like Sal Stewart (.261 AVG, .806 OPS, 28 HR, 100 RBI, 12 SB).
Stewart is having an amazing campaign for the Reds, as he was named an All-Star for the first time. The Florida native has been on a tear lately, putting together an impressive 10-game hitting streak, although it came to an end in Wednesday’s win over the Giants. He is also the first Reds rookie since 1953 (Jim Greengrass) to reach 100 RBIs in a season, and a top candidate to win NL Rookie of the Year.
The team must do whatever it takes to make sure Stewart is in Cincinnati for the long haul. He’s a superstar in the making.
Looking Ahead
Next up, the Reds will head to Wrigley Field for a three-game series against the Cubs, starting on Friday, before heading home for a three-game series against the San Diego Padres, beginning Monday.
Here’s a look at the upcoming schedule, including TV information and probable pitchers:
- Friday, 8/28: 2:20 PM, Reds.TV/MLB.TV, Rhett Lowder (CIN) (5-8, 5.13 ERA, 1.47 WHIP) vs. David Peterson (CHI) (7-7, 5.17 ERA, 1.50 WHIP)
- Saturday, 8/29: 2:20 PM, Reds.TV/MLB.TV, Andrew Abbott (CIN) (6-9, 4.15 ERA, 1.40 WHIP) vs. Kevin Gausman (CHI) (7-11, 4.37 ERA, 1.26 WHIP)
- Sunday, 8/30: 7:20 PM, NBC/Peacock, Chase Burns (CIN) (14-3, 2.77 ERA, 1.15 WHIP) vs. Shota Imanaga (CHI) (8-9, 3.78 ERA, 1.12 WHIP)
- Monday, 8/31: 6:40 PM, Reds.TV/MLB.TV, TBD (SD) vs. TBD (CIN)
- Tuesday, 9/1: 6:40 PM, Reds.TV/MLB.TV, TBD (SD) vs. TBD (CIN)
- Wednesday, 9/2: 12:40 PM, Reds.TV/MLB.TV, TBD (SD) vs. TBD (CIN)