Reds acquire Miguel Andujar but fall to the Braves 6-3 on Aug 1, 2025. Despite a blast from Elly, the team looks to its new bat for a playoff push. Recap.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a day of mixed signals at Great American Ball Park. Off the field, the Reds made a decisive move for the stretch run, acquiring potent bat Miguel Andujar from the A's. On the field, however, the team dropped the series opener to the formidable Atlanta Braves 6-3, a reminder that every game in this playoff chase is a battle. While the loss drops the Reds to 57-54, the front office's message was clear: reinforcements are here.
'Andujar is one of the best players in baseball at hitting left-handed pitching. He fits as a middle-of-the-order bat against lefties.' - Nick Krall
Just before the deadline, President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall bolstered the Reds' lineup by trading for infielder/outfielder Miguel Andujar. The 30-year-old is a manager's dream against southpaws, boasting a staggering .422 average and 1.036 OPS against them this season. In exchange, the Reds sent their No. 22 prospect, right-hander Kenya Huggins, to Oakland. To make room on the 40-man roster, veteran Wade Miley was transferred to the 60-day IL, a move that likely signals the end of the 38-year-old's season but was necessary to add a key piece for the playoff push.
Despite the off-field excitement, the on-field result was a familiar frustration. The Reds couldn't string together enough offense against Atlanta, falling 6-3. The highlight for the home team was a two-run laser from Elly De La Cruz, his 19th home run of the season. Brady Singer delivered a respectable start, going 6.1 innings and allowing three earned runs while striking out six, but the Braves' offense, powered by a Matt Olson homer, proved too much. The loss keeps the Reds in third place in a tight NL Central race.
The Andujar trade wasn't Krall's only move to prepare for the stretch run. He also announced that Nick Martinez will shift to the bullpen, a move designed to strengthen the relief corps following the recent acquisition of Zack Littell. While the big league club tools up, the future continues to look bright. Shortstop Tyson Lewis, the team's No. 7 prospect, is on an absolute tear since his promotion to Single-A Daytona, hitting .330 over the last month with eight extra-base hits and five steals, showing the next wave of talent is on its way.
While Friday's loss stings, the front office made a clear statement: they're buying in for a postseason run. The addition of a specialized weapon like Andujar and the fortification of the bullpen show a commitment to winning now. The Reds will look to even the series against Atlanta tomorrow, and fans will be eagerly awaiting the debut of their new lefty-mashing bat. The final two months of the season just got a lot more interesting.
