The Cincinnati Reds are still clinging to hope in the playoff race as they head into Monday’s action, but the clock is ticking fast. They sit 2.5 games back of the final National League wild-card spot, a manageable gap in theory, yet the reality is less forgiving. Cincinnati has dropped three straight contests at a time when every win is critical, making it increasingly difficult to gain ground in a tightly packed postseason chase.
At the center of the Reds’ offensive identity has been their young star shortstop, Elly De La Cruz. The 23-year-old phenom has quickly established himself as one of the most electrifying players in baseball, already securing his second consecutive All-Star selection this season. His speed, raw power, and ability to energize both the clubhouse and fan base have made him the face of Cincinnati’s rebuild. However, the timing of his struggles could not be worse. Since the All-Star break, De La Cruz has endured one of the roughest stretches of his young career, batting just .227 with a .280 on-base percentage and a .609 OPS. Over that span of 52 games, he’s managed only a single home run, a sharp decline from the impact bat the Reds were counting on to lead their postseason charge.
The concerns are compounded by his defensive woes. While his athleticism often produces highlight-reel plays, De La Cruz has also committed a league-high 23 errors this season, exposing an inconsistency that limits his value when his bat goes cold. With so much of his contribution tied to his offensive production, the Reds cannot afford his prolonged slump while fighting for October baseball.
This has placed first-year manager Terry Francona in a difficult position. Tasked with guiding a youthful roster through the ups and downs of a playoff push, Francona made a bold adjustment ahead of Monday’s series opener against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals. After starting De La Cruz in the third spot of the batting order in 148 of the team’s first 149 games, Francona dropped his star shortstop to seventh in the lineup for the first time all year. The only other time De La Cruz did not hit third was when he entered as a pinch-hitter, underscoring how firmly entrenched he’s been as Cincinnati’s centerpiece.
The move signals the urgency of the Reds’ situation. Francona’s decision to shift his most marketable and dynamic player further down the order reflects the reality that drastic changes are needed if Cincinnati hopes to stay alive in the playoff picture. For De La Cruz, it is both a challenge and an opportunity—a chance to reset, simplify his approach, and perhaps reignite his bat without the weight of carrying the offense on his shoulders.
The Reds, meanwhile, find themselves at a crossroads. They have not reached the postseason since the shortened 2020 campaign, and the frustration of missing out for a fifth consecutive year would be felt deeply in a city that has rallied around this young core. Whether De La Cruz can regain his form and help spark a late-season push will go a long way in determining if Cincinnati’s season ends in heartbreak or a surprise run into October.
