The Cincinnati Reds have put a difficult May behind them, and a recent four-game winning streak could signal a stepping off point for another postseason bid.
The Reds finished two games and about 24 hours short of a National League wild card berth in 2023, and much of the talent that made that happen remains, a year more experienced and a year more understanding of the challenge.
Cincinnati again has one of the youngest — and because of market forces one of the lowest-salaried — rosters in the league. The Reds’ $106 million payroll ranks 24th in the league, one spot below where it ranked a year ago.
Neither was an impediment when the Reds made a 20-game improvement to 82-80 a year ago and were just short of their first full-season playoff appearance since 2013. That manager David Bell finished sixth in the NL manager of the year voting seemed on oversight.
The Reds showed their dangerous side in a three-game sweep of Colorado at Coors Field earlier this week, outscoring the Rockies 29-11 to improve to 29-33 after a rugged May in which they opened two games over .500 and finished seven games under, losing 10 of 11 in one early stretch.
The message has remained constant.
“Just continue to improve,” Bell said. “We have a long way to go this year. A lot of the improvement that has already happened hasn’t show up yet. We have to continue that. That never ends.”
The Reds were their best selves in Colorado, capping a 9-3 run as they maneuver in a division that seems certain to require it. Milwaukee under first-year manager Pat Murphy is the only team in the NL Central with a winning record, but only two games separated the other four teams in a division (and wild card) race that again could go down to the final weekend.
The Reds hit while winning the third series in the last four, a stretch that began with a three-game home sweep of the $240 million (not including deferrals) Los Angeles Dodgers. They pitched. They ran.
All-Star candidate first baseman/outfielder Spencer Steer had six hits and five RBIs in the series, and his two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning capped the Reds’ four-homer day and ignited a six-run rally for a 12-7 victory over the Rockies in the final game of the series Wednesday. Speer and Shohei Ohtani were tied for sixth in the league with 40 RBIs.
Catcher Tyler Stephenson and third baseman Jeimer Candelario, one of the few offensive additions this season, homered in the opener, a 13-3 victory. Gifted power/speed threat Elly De La Cruz broke an 1-for-18 skid with his 10th homer in a 4-1 win Tuesday.
The Reds believe in an aggressive approach, apparent with their four stolen bases Wednesday. Everyone has bought in. Candelario, their highest-paid player after signing a three-year $45 million contract in the offseason, had his first two steals of the year.
“We’ve had success playing a certain way,” said Bell, whose team led the major leagues with 190 stolen bases last season and ranked second with 92 through 62 games.
De La Cruz, 22, rode his speed and the new rules to 35 stolen bases after his June promotion in an eye-opening 2023 season, and he led the majors with 32 on June 5 this season.
While De La Cruz remains a work in progress — he led the majors with 84 strikeouts and had 11 errors — his potential is clear. He became the fifth player since 1901 with at least nine homers and 25 stolen bases in a 40-game stretch this season.
“I thought he came in really intentional and focused on getting better in specific areas in his game in spring training, and it has carried over this season,” Bell said. “Defensively, it’s incredible the amount of work and the focused work that he has done. It is showing up in games. Offensively, he’s had some really nice stretches.
“He’s learning. He’s growing. Even when the results aren’t there, he’s getting better. He’s had a lot of success so far but he has a lot more ahead of him.”
The Reds received quality starts from Andrew Abbott and Frankie Montas in Colorado, Montas throwing six no-hit innings Tuesday for his first victory since April 3.
“Definitely back to healthy Frankie,” said Montas, whose fastball sat at 97 mph.
A healthy Montas will add another hard-thrower to a rotation that includes Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo, who just returned after missing three turns with a groin strain.
Montas made only eight starts in 2022 and underwent shoulder surgery in February, 2023, before returning to make one appearance for the the New York Yankees last season. He signed a one-year, $14 million contract in the offseason that includes a mutual $20 million mutual option with a $2 million buyout for 2025.
Greene, Lodolo and Abbott have ERAs under 3.50 and WHIPs under 1.17 in a combined 32 starts.
The rotation is supported by a bullpen anchored by closer Alexis Diaz (12 saves) and third-year right-hander Fernando Cruz, who opened the season by striking out at least one hitter in his first 25 appearances, the fourth-longest streak since 1893, according to Elias.
“With our pitching it didn’t take a lot of runs,” Bell said after Tuesday’s game. “It’s been a couple of weeks now where guys are gaining confidence and swinging the bat. We’re scoring runs.”
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