Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers sweep the Reds with a 5-2 win on July 30. As Ohtani shines, the loss puts Cincinnati's front office on the clock for the trade deadline.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a tough pill to swallow on a Wednesday night at Great American Ball Park. Not only did the Reds fall 5-2 to the Los Angeles Dodgers, but they watched Shohei Ohtani dominate from the mound and the plate, capping a frustrating three-game sweep. As the dust settles on another loss, a much larger clock is ticking, and its hands are pointing directly at the front office with the trade deadline just hours away.
The Reds have now lost three straight, falling to 56-52 and remaining a distant third in the NL Central.
The finale against the Dodgers felt like a microcosm of the Reds' recent struggles. Nick Martinez battled on the mound but wasn't sharp enough, surrendering four runs over 5.2 innings, including a back-breaking two-run homer to Will Smith in the fifth. To add insult to injury, Shohei Ohtani helped his own cause with a solo shot in the seventh. Martinez's record fell to 9-10, and his 4.69 ERA underscores the team's desperate need for reliable starting pitching. The bullpen did its job, allowing just one run, but the offense simply couldn't muster enough against one of the game's best.
If there's one player who seems immune to the team-wide slump, it's Elly De La Cruz. The electric shortstop was a force once again, going 2-for-4 with an RBI double that accounted for one of the few Reds highlights. He's now hitting .282 on the season with 18 homers and 68 RBIs. While the team's bats have gone quiet, Elly continues to prove he's not just the future, but the most dynamic part of the present. His consistency is a welcome sight, and frankly, it's the main reason to tune in right now.
As the team was getting swept, the front office was conspicuously quiet. With the trade deadline fast approaching, no moves were announced on Wednesday. For a team clearly in need of a boost, particularly on the pitching staff, the inaction is deafening. Fans are anxiously waiting to see if management will make a move to bolster this roster for a playoff push or stand pat. The performance against the Dodgers was a glaring advertisement for why help is needed. The next 24 hours will define the rest of this season.
While the big-league club struggles, the future continues to look bright. MLB Pipeline's latest update shows the Reds with five prospects in the Top 100, a testament to the organization's drafting and development. Pitchers Chase Burns (#26) and Rhett Lowder (#35) are already known quantities, while infielders Sal Stewart (#84), Cam Collier (#91), and Edwin Arroyo (#92) are making waves in the minors. This deep well of talent provides a safety net and a reminder that even in tough stretches, the long-term outlook for Cincinnati baseball is strong.
So, where do the Reds go from here? All eyes are on the front office as the trade deadline clock ticks down to zero. Will they acquire the pitching depth needed to compete, or will they ride it out with the current squad? After a dispiriting sweep at the hands of the Dodgers, the team needs a spark. Whether that comes from a new player or from within, something needs to change fast if the Reds hope to get back into the NL Central race.
