The Reds' bats fell silent in a 6-1 loss to the Cardinals on June 21. Despite Elly De La Cruz's efforts, the team's offensive woes continue to threaten them.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a familiar, frustrating story in St. Louis on Saturday. The Cincinnati Reds, boasting one of the league's most promising young rotations, saw their bats completely disappear in a 6-1 loss to the Cardinals. The defeat, which dropped the team to 39-36, wasn't just a single bad day at the office; it was a glaring symptom of the offensive inconsistency that has plagued the team all season and threatens to derail their postseason hopes.
The Reds managed only two hits over six shutout innings against Cardinals starter Andre Pallante.
The game felt winnable for most of the evening. Reds starter Wade Miley kept things close, but the offense could find no answers for Cardinals starter Andre Pallante, who silenced Cincinnati's lineup for six dominant, shutout innings. The box score tells a brutal tale of offensive futility. Even team leader Elly De La Cruz, with his 16 homers and 50 RBIs on the season, was kept quiet. The game unraveled completely in the eighth inning when the Cardinals' bats exploded for five runs, turning a tight contest into a blowout. A late, meaningless run was all the Reds could muster, a fitting end to a night of offensive ineptitude.
This loss perfectly encapsulates the 2025 Reds. On one hand, you have a rotation brimming with talent, led by the electric arms of Hunter Greene, Andrew Abbott, and Nick Lodolo. On the other, you have an offense that can't seem to find its rhythm. Key contributors from last year, like Spencer Steer and Matt McLain, have been unable to replicate their success, leaving a massive hole in the lineup. Outside of the ever-dynamic TJ Friedl and the raw power of Elly De La Cruz, consistent production has been hard to come by. This offensive malaise is the primary reason the team is hovering around .500 and sitting fourth in the NL Central instead of competing for the top spot.
The front office faces a difficult choice as the trade deadline approaches. The farm system mirrors the major league club's situation. The pitching pipeline is loaded, with top prospects Chase Burns and Chase Petty knocking on the door and Rhett Lowder waiting in the wings once he's healthy. The hitting, however, is a different story. While youngsters Alfredo Duno and Tyson Lewis are showing promise, the overall offensive depth in the minors is a concern. Do the Reds become buyers and trade some of that pitching depth for a proven bat? Or do they stand pat, hoping the current roster finds its groove? The next few weeks will be crucial in determining the direction of this franchise for the rest of the season.
As the Reds look to salvage the series against their division rivals, the questions are only getting louder. One game is just one game, but this loss felt like more. It was a microcosm of a team at a crossroads. The pitching is here, the talent is undeniable, but until the offense provides consistent support, the Reds will remain a team stuck in the middle, leaving fans to wonder which direction they'll turn as the trade deadline clock ticks.
