Reds need to buy bats if they want to spark a true ‘Cinderella run’ originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Cincinnati Reds are off to a wonderful start to the season. They have a 16-9 record, which is good for first place in the National League Central.
But if they were playing in the American League, they would have the best record on that side, even better than the New York Yankees.
This is a bit of a surprising start, considering the club lost its top arm, Hunter Greene, to the 60-day IL before the season started while he rehabs from elbow surgery.
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Reds need to buy bats if they want to spark a true ‘Cinderella run’
Despite losing Greene, others in the rotation have stepped up. Rhett Lowder leads the way with three wins under his belt, while Chase Burns leads the club with his 2.57 ERA and 30 strikeouts.
The bullpen has also been effective, with Emilio Pagan saving six games and Tony Santillan holding seven games.
The problem, if there is any, is coming from the offense. Aside from Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart, things are a bit stale. Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer suggests grabbing a bat or two ahead of the deadline.
“Save for Sal Stewart and Elly De La Cruz, their offense is a nightmare, ranking second-to-last in the majors with a .642 OPS. If the front office can do something about that on the trade market, this team may have a Cinderella run in it.”
Stewart and Cruz have 16 home runs between them. The rest of the team only has 11.
A trade to help even out the offense a bit could be a great idea. Someone like Nathaniel Lowe could be at play here, and while he’s not hitting his best right now, Isaac Paredes could also be an option whose bat could play well at Great American Ball Park if he can get it going this year.
More MLB news:
- Orioles viewed as top trade candidate for Cardinals’ high-leverage lefty
- MLB analyst sets the stage for Twins’ backstop to be traded later this summer
- Rockies’ reliever could be the hidden gem of the 2026 trade market
- Nationals may want to consider trading breakout arm before he hits free agency
- Angels’ utility player could be on the move later this season