MATT MCLAIN NEWS

Giants aim to avoid series sweep against the Reds

The Cincinnati Reds will look to sweep a three-game series with a win against the San Francisco Giants

APRIL 9 • Associated Press

McLain lands on IL as Marte, Benson return to Majors SAN FRANCISCO -- The Reds placed infielder Matt McLain on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a slight left hamstring strain. Right-hander...

APRIL 9 • MLB.COM

Reds place second baseman Matt McLain on injured list as precaution with left hamstring injury

Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain was placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring that the team expects will heal quickly by giving him some days to r...

APRIL 8 • Associated Press

Placed on injured list The Reds placed McLain (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list Tuesday due to a left hamstring strain.

Impact McLain was reportedly available off the bench Monday, but the Reds will instead err on the side of caution with the 25-year-old's hamstring and give him more time to recover while on the injured list. He hasn't played since Saturday, so he'll be eligible to return from the IL in a week. While he's out, Santiago Espinal could benefit from increased playing time at second base, or the Reds could move Gavin Lux to the keystone from left field.

APRIL 8 • ROTOWIRE

Reds play the Giants leading series 1-0

The Cincinnati Reds play the San Francisco Giants with a 1-0 series lead

APRIL 8 • Associated Press

Available off bench Monday McClain (hamstring) is not in the Reds' starting lineup against the Giants on Monday but is available off the bench, Pat Brennan of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Impact McClain will be out of the Reds' starting lineup for a fourth consecutive game due to left hamstring soreness, but he could be used as a pinch hitter in Monday's contest. Gavin Lux will start at second base and bat out of the cleanup spot against Giants right-hander Logan Webb.

APRIL 7 • ROTOWIRE

Giants begin 3-game series at home against the Reds

The San Francisco Giants begin a three-game series at home against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday

APRIL 7 • Associated Press

Former Bruin Continues to Deal with Injuries Former UCLA Bruin and Cincinnati Reds infielder Matt McLain once again battles with injury in his second MLB season.

APRIL 6 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Remains on bench Sunday McLain (hamstring) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.

Impact The second baseman was scratched from the starting nine the past two days due to hamstring tightness, and the Reds won't attempt to rush him back for Sunday's series finale in Milwaukee. Santiago Espinal will start at the keystone and bat second in place of McLain.

APRIL 6 • ROTOWIRE

May be out Sunday McLain (hamstring) may be held out of the Reds' lineup Sunday, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.

Impact McLain doesn't appear to be dealing with a serious issue, though he was out of the lineup both Friday and Saturday after being a late scratch. Manager Terry Francona said the Reds will take a cautious approach as they don't want to force him into the lineup when he isn't at full strength, though he didn't go as far as to rule McLain out for Sunday's matchup against the Brewers.

APRIL 6 • ROTOWIRE

May be out Sunday McLain (hamstring) may be held out of the Reds' lineup Sunday, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.

Impact McLain doesn't appear to be dealing with a serious issue, though he was out of the lineup both Friday and Saturday after being a late scratch. Manager Terry Francona said the Reds will take a cautious approach as they don't want to force him into the lineup when he isn't at full strength, though he didn't go as far as to rule McLain out for Sunday's matchup against the Brewers.

APRIL 6 • ROTOWIRE

No longer starting Saturday McLain was scratched from Saturday's lineup against Milwaukee due to a tight left hamstring.

Impact McLain was also a late scratch due to the hamstring issue Friday, though he was able to appear as a pinch hitter late in the contest. He was originally slated to return to the lineup Saturday but was subsequently removed. McLain had been penciled in at DH before being scratched, and that role will now be assumed by TJ Friedl, while Blake Dunn will move into the lineup in center field.

APRIL 5 • ROTOWIRE

Reds manager Terry Francona back at ballpark Saturday after missing a game with 'intestinal turmoil'

Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona was back at American Family Field with his entire roster Saturday after missing a game a day earlier due to what he jokingly described as “in...

APRIL 5 • Associated Press

Cleared to return Saturday McLain (hamstring) is starting at DH and batting second against the Brewers on Saturday.

Impact McLain was a late scratch Friday due to a hamstring injury, but he was able to log a plate appearance as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning. The 25-year-old shortstop is back in the lineup Saturday, suggesting that the hamstring issue isn't a major concern. The struggling Spencer Steer is getting the day off Saturday, allowing McLain to stay off his feet as the team's DH. Meanwhile, Santiago Espinal is starting at second base.

APRIL 5 • ROTOWIRE

Available as pinch hitter Friday McLain (hamstring) entered Friday's 3-2 loss to the Brewers in the ninth inning as a pinch hitter and flied out to center field.

Impact The second baseman was a late scratch before the contest, but McLain's hamstring issue doesn't appear to be a serious one. The fact that he was available off the bench is a good sign he'll be able to return to the starting nine Saturday, although the Reds might continue to treat the 25-year-old with kid gloves given that he missed the entire 2024 season due to multiple injuries. McLain is batting .214 (6-for-28) to begin the year with three homers, a steal, five RBI and seven runs.

APRIL 5 • ROTOWIRE

Reds look to break 4-game losing streak, take on the Brewers

The Cincinnati Reds look to end a four-game losing streak with a victory over the Milwaukee Brewers

APRIL 5 • Associated Press

Scratched from lineup McLain was scratched from the lineup ahead of Friday's game against the Brewers due to left hamstring tightness.

Impact The Reds haven't offered any information regarding the severity of McLain's injury, though it's apparently enough to keep him out of Friday's contest. He can be viewed as day-to-day for now; meanwhile, his absence will open a spot in the lineup for Spencer Steer to serve as the DH and bat second.

APRIL 4 • ROTOWIRE

Steals base Wednesday McLain went 0-for-4 with a stolen base in Wednesday's 1-0 loss to the Rangers.

Impact McLain reached base on an error then stole second, putting himself in scoring position with no outs. Two swinging strikeouts and a groundout followed, and the Reds lost a second consecutive 1-0 game. The theft was the first of the season for McLain, who had double-digit steals for the Reds in 2023 and at every minor league stop before that.

APRIL 3 • ROTOWIRE

Reds' Elly De La Cruz posts career-high 7 RBIs in first game with torpedo bat

Elly De La Cruz had a single, double and two home runs for a career-high seven RBIs and the Reds routed the Texas Rangers 14-3.

APRIL 1 • FOX SPORTS

Stays hot Monday McLain went 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI, four runs scored and a walk in Monday's win over the Rangers.

Impact McLain knocked a two-run homer in the first inning, wasting no time going deep for a third consecutive game. He's now 5-for-16 with four extra-base hits and seven runs scored through four games. McLain posted an impressive .864 OPS as a rookie in 2023 but missed the entire 2024 campaign due to shoulder and rib injuries. It's worth noting that all four of his starts have been at second base after he spent some time in the outfield during the Arizona Fall League in 2024.

APRIL 1 • ROTOWIRE

De La Cruz's career night (2 HRs, 7 RBIs) keys Reds' rout CINCINNATI -- It took four games but the Reds found the full throttle for their offense, with both their little engine -- Matt McLain \-\- a...

APRIL 1 • MLB.COM

Goes deep again McLain batted leadoff and went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 6-3 loss to the Giants.

Impact McLain moved up a spot in the batting order with TJ Friedl getting a day off, against a left-hander. McLain hit the second of back-to-back home runs in the sixth inning, when the Reds scored all three of their runs. Other than that, the Cincinnati bats were quiet. The homer was McLain's second in as many days.

MARCH 31 • ROTOWIRE

Matt Chapman's 2-run homer, and Ramos' solo shot, help Giants beat Reds 6-3

Matt Chapman hit a two-run homer and Heliot Ramos homered for the second time in the series as the San Francisco Giants beat the Cincinnati Reds 6-3

MARCH 30 • Associated Press

Homers in win McLain went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a double and an additional run scored in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Giants.

Impact McLain put the Reds on the board with a homer in the third inning and then scored the tying run in the fifth. After missing the entire 2024 season due to injury, the 25-year-old looks healthy and could provide plenty of value hitting second in front of Elly De La Cruz.

MARCH 30 • ROTOWIRE

Deadspin | Matt McLain helps Reds rally past Giants for 1st win of season Deadspin | Matt McLain helps Reds rally past Giants for 1st win of season

MARCH 30 • DEADSPIN.COM