Rookie infielder Matt McLain has missed just shy of a month due to a right oblique strain and was expected to return from the 10-day injured list today, ready to join the Reds for the final week of their push for an NL wild card berth. Unfortunately, McLain won’t be activated for at least the rest of the regular season, as the Reds told reporters (including Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer) that McLain suffered another oblique injury while rehabbing.
The new injury is a Grade 2 strain, a more serious type of oblique problem that would usually mean something in the neighborhood of a two-month layoff (at least). Oblique injuries usually don’t have a set timeline, and yet even if the Reds were to make it all the way to the World Series, there doesn’t appear to be any chance that McLain will be part of even a deep postseason run.
It’s a tough outcome for both McLain and the Reds, who sit 2.5 games out of a wild card berth with five games remaining in their schedule. The Phillies have all but clinched the top wild card berth and the Cubs and Diamondbacks are tied for the second and third WC slots, though Cincinnati won their season series against both Chicago and Arizona. That would give the Reds the tiebreaker edge over either club in the event of a matching record, though the Marlins also sit between the Reds and the playoff line.
A team needs all the help it can get in such a tight pennant race, which is why the prospect of McLain’s return looked like such a boost to Cincinnati’s fortunes. McLain has hit .290/.357/.507 with 16 homers over 403 plate appearances in his first MLB season, as he has been arguably the best of the several younger players coming up from the minors to immediately help carry the Reds into contention. Between his offense (128 wRC+) and defensive contributions as both a shortstop and second baseman, McLain generated 3.2 fWAR over his 89 games.
This excellent rookie year certainly establishes McLain as a big part of the Reds’ future, though his absence has undoubtedly hampered the club’s present chances of the playoffs. Cincinnati is 12-13 since McLain’s last game, though a long losing streak at the start of August already dealt a blow to the upstart team’s hopes. The Reds at least got Jonathan India back from the IL earlier this month, and India and Elly De La Cruz have been regularly handling the middle infield duties.
The baseball gods are a bunch of jerks.
Very disappointing as everyone looked forward to his return. But get healthy for next year, young man!
128 OPS plus in 400 plate appearances is really good, he’s going to be good for your Reds.
Dang this sucks! He was the best player on the team this year. He’s the real MVP, not Elly De La Cruz. Higher floor/lower ceiling than Elly. Hopefully they both pan out and are studs for the next 6 years. They’re both Boras clients so I’ll bid them adieu at that point.
Reds will lock up a couple of these guys. What else will reds do w all that payroll flex they have ?
Stop talking “all the help they can get”
They’re done
You wouldn’t say that if it was your team.
It is my team
Done.
The good news is they play the Guardians and Cardinals.
The bad news is they’re playing like the Guardians and Cardinals.
Reds have suffered more than their share of injuries, and injury setbacks. Hopefully this is a function of Reds players being comprised of prospects, inexperienced players, and newcomers. Improved communications with trainers, coaches, and medical personnel is required. Better get someone on it Nick. You appear to have covered most of the other bases.
McClain was truly the Reds’ MVP this year both offensively and defensively. Watched him several times at Louisville this year and thought his game was better than De La Cruz’s at AAA.
So for us Reds fans – not our year, but it’s been a fun ride. Kudos to Nick Krall for pulling off the trades to make this happen (especially the Spencer Steer/Christian Encarnacion-Strand for Tyler Mahle deal).
Granted the Reds have had their share of good luck this year. They are sitting at a -48 run differential, which implies that they have won 6 more games than they should based on Pythagorean Theory. They were 38-43 at home and the SP was so bad that it caused the BP to be overworked from Opening Day forward. They were 34-27 in 1-run games and 10-5 in extra inning games yet were a disturbing 12-21 in blowouts of 5+ runs. There was a steady shuttle of players between Cincinnati and Louisville all season long so often times they were trying to get by with AAAA players, most notably pitchers. All that points to a season that could have mirrored last year but did not.
Let’s hope the Reds are active and accurate in their signing of FA pitchers and a power bat over the off season. The $$ is there with Votto’s $20mm off the books ($7mm buyout) and only Hunter Greene’s contract ($3mm next year) on the books.
Looking forward to next year already!
Too bad but what a bright future for this kid.
I’d love it if the Reds and Giants swap some young bats for arms. Then they’ll be seeing each other in the playoffs for the next several years.
Hunter Renfroe is the real Cubs MVP.
Being an Angels fan I’ve grown to hate Renfroe’s game. He is at his worst with runners in scoring position. Too many pop ups, strikeouts and ground outs at crucial moments of the game. Renfroe’s suckiness cost the Angels at least 10 wins. They should of given those at bats to Joe Adell or any league average player.
I love it that Renfroe is home without a job spending quality time with his new born baby daughter.
I think his only way back into the big leagues will be a minor league invite to spring training.
The guy the Reds should of taken was Grichuk. He’s had a very productive August and September with his bat and hits lefties very well.
The Reds selected the wrong guy off of waivers. Giving Renfroe at bats kept the Cubs in the pennant race.