The Reds' offense stalled in an 11-2 loss to the Guardians on June 11, 2025, as Lane Thomas starred for Cleveland. Can CES's return spark a turnaround?
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Just when we thought the Reds' bats had turned a corner, they hit a brick wall in Cleveland. In a classic case of feast or famine, the team followed up a dominant, high-scoring series win against the Diamondbacks with a brutal 11-2 beatdown at the hands of the Guardians, leaving fans wondering which version of this offense is the real one.
One day you're hanging an eight-run inning on an opponent, the next you're mustering just five hits. It's a frustrating brand of baseball.
The Battle of Ohio was a one-sided affair on Wednesday night. The Guardians jumped on the Reds' starter early and never looked back, cruising to an 11-2 victory. Cleveland's Lane Thomas was the chief tormentor, going 3-for-5 with a home run and 3 RBIs. Meanwhile, the Reds' offense, which had looked so potent just days ago, was completely neutralized by Logan Allen and the Guardians' staff, scratching across only five hits all game. The bullpen couldn't stop the bleeding, and the result was a forgettable night at Progressive Field.
The good news from the day came before the game even started, with the activation of first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand from the 10-day IL. CES, who was sidelined with lower back inflammation, is seen as a key piece to unlocking this lineup's potential. His power bat was a huge factor in the offensive explosion against Arizona, where the team put up a five-run first and an eight-run fourth in back-to-back games. While his return didn't immediately translate to a win against Cleveland, getting him back in the heart of the order is a critical step towards finding offensive consistency.
While the big league club struggled, there was reason for excitement down on the farm. Top prospect Burns delivered another masterful performance for the Double-A Lookouts, spinning a complete game shutout. Burns has been electric all season, and his continued dominance is impossible to ignore. With the big-league pitching staff showing some cracks, another performance like this puts him squarely on the radar for a potential call-up later this summer. It's a comforting reminder that significant help is on the way.
The road doesn't get any easier, and the team needs to find its footing fast. With a healthy CES back in the fold and talent like Burns waiting in the wings, the potential is there. But potential doesn't win ballgames. The Reds need to shake off this Cleveland clunker and rediscover the offensive identity that won them the Arizona series, starting tomorrow.
