Matt McLain Ends 0-for-19 Skid, But His Struggles Are Not Over

After going hitless in his previous 19 at-bats, Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain dropped down a bunt single against the New York Mets in the second inning and later came around to score in the eventual 7-2 win for the Reds. 

The 26-year-old finished the night 1-for-4, leaving him 1-for-23 over his last five games. A far cry from putting an end to this prolonged slump and getting back to his rookie form.

When McLain burst onto the scene in 2023, he looked like a cornerstone piece of Cincinnati's future. The former first-round pick hit .290 with an .864 OPS, 16 home runs and 14 stolen bases in just 89 games, immediately establishing himself as one of the National League's most promising young middle infielders.

All that progress came to a screeching halt in Spring Training of 2024, when a torn labrum would sideline him for the entire season. McLain has been searching to regain that rookie form ever since.

After never getting into a rhythm in his 2025 return, finishing with a .643 OPS across 147 games, the Reds entered 2026 with the belief that they'd finally get to see a healthy version of McLain for the first time since that stellar rookie year. That optimism only grew during Spring Training, when he hit .509 with seven home runs in 18 games.

Through 54 games, however, McLain is slashing .199/.295/.325. While the strikeout rate has dropped and the walk rate has climbed to a career high at 11.2, the quality of contact has moved in the opposite direction. He entered last week with an average exit velocity of 87.8, a 35.9% hard-hit rate and a 7.1% barrel rate — all career worsts.

The underlying numbers create an unusual situation. McLain is chasing fewer pitches and making more contact inside the strike zone, but the contact itself has not been nearly as impactful.

Reds manager Terry Francona offered another possible explanation before Tuesday's game, when the streak was still alive.

"I think at times, mechanically, he's having a hard time being on time," Francona said via Mike Petraglia of CNLS Cincy. "It's hard to get your 'A' swing off when you're late because the ball gets up on you."

That timing issue could help explain another troubling trend. It’s no secret that McLain has struggled against high fastballs this season, posting a significantly higher whiff rate in the upper third of the strike zone than he has lower in the zone.

McClain's saving grace remains his defense. His exceptional range and speed are likely the key factors in Francona keeping him in the lineup. How long before the patience with his bat runs dry, however, remains to be seen.

McLain gets one last crack at the struggling Mets in Wednesday's series finale, as New York's Huascar Brazobán takes the mound against Cincinnati's Andrew Abbot.