Two big differences in the Reds' lineup recently

Heading into this weekend’s series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Cincinnati Reds were at a real low point. The lack of comeback wins, the all-or-nothing quality of the offense and some specific frustrating slumps from key players raised some alarm bells. On top of all of that, the Reds had just been outclassed in series losses vs. the Cubs and Brewers.

The Reds haven’t had much to celebrate this season. But on Saturday, as the Reds picked up a suspended game followed by Game 2 of the series and won both of them vs. Arizona, the Reds looked as good as they have all season.

They still have a long way to go as they sit in fourth place in the NL Central with a 32-33 record. But following a walk-off 4-3 win in extra innings with a 13-1 rout against the Diamondbacks helps the Reds take a more optimistic view of where they stand.

“We’ve been talking about it,” Gavin Lux said. “I think we’re about to get hot pretty soon here. Hopefully this series is a start.”

It’s worth noting that two Diamondbacks All-Stars, Corbin Carroll and Josh Naylor, have combined for one plate appearance in this series. And the Reds faced two Diamondbacks starters who haven’t been good in 2025.

But still, taking this series win required digging in during a rainstorm on Friday night, clutch outs from the bullpen early Saturday afternoon and smart hitting plus power in Game 2.

“Good signs,” Nick Martinez said.

There have been two big differences in the Reds’ lineup of late. The most obvious starting place is Christian Encarnacion-Strand, who returned from the injured list, provided a homer plus a walk-off double in Game 1 and then homered in Game 2 to give the Reds a commanding 3-0 lead.

One of the stories of the Reds’ season has been that they haven’t been the same team when Austin Hays has been on the injured list. There has been a glaring need for a right-handed power bat when Hays hasn’t been active.

Encarnacion-Strand had a .482 OPS in his 15 games this season entering the weekend and hasn’t proven to be consistent since 2023. But the tools are there for him to be a difference maker if he’s swinging at pitches in the strike zone and not selling out to pull the ball too much.

Back in 2023, Encarnacion-Strand saved the Reds in August and September with his power. He’s currently as healthy as he has been in a while, and he has provided an immediate spark.

“He plays with a lot of passion, he plays hard and he has a lot of juice,” Lux said. “When you have that kind of power, it can change a game fast. We’ve lacked slugging a little bit, it feels like.”

“It means a lot having him back,” Matt McLain said. “Obviously, he brings a lot of power. He’s just an all-around good player that we need.”

Francona showed his confidence in Encarnacion-Strand by putting him in the cleanup spot and, more importantly, at third base. If Encarnacion-Strand can play that position, then that opens up a ton of possibilities and gives Francona much more flexibility. With Encarnacion-Strand at third base in the place of the badly slumping Santiago Espinal, Francona was able to get his nine best hitters vs. RHP in the lineup for Game 2 and had Espinal, Connor Joe, Garrett Hampson and Jose Trevino on the bench.

Without Espinal in the lineup, the Reds needed a No. 2 hitter. That has been Lux recently against RHP. He hit a grand slam on Saturday in Game 2, and Lux has a strong .850 OPS vs. RHP this season.

“(Lux) just grinds away,” Francona said. “He’s just a good hitter.”

Putting Lux in the No. 2 spot didn’t carry as much risk against a Diamondbacks team that didn’t have a LHP available in the bullpen for Game 2, but he also hit second against the Brewers. With Lux in that role, the Reds now have three left-handed hitters at the top of the order (TJ Friedl, Lux, Elly De La Cruz) when they face RHP.

You don’t see that much because it makes it easier on opposing managers late in games, when they can just put in a left-handed reliever to neutralize the top-third of the order. But the Reds still don’t have a late comeback win this year. This team needs to score early. Having Friedl, Lux and De La Cruz hit as much as possible vs. a right-handed starter gives the Reds their best chance to do that.

And it Encarnacion-Strand is slugging behind them, even better.