The offense of the Cincinnati Reds has been simply abysmal so far in 2026, ranking dead last in both runs and wRC+ through the season’s first 13 games.
Of particular concern, though, is just how poor the output has been from the leadoff position. So far this year, Reds leadoff hitters have collectively put together just a 46 wRC+, a mark that’s been worsted by only the Miami Marlins (34) and San Diego Padres (17). Reds leadoff men sport an impossible .000 ISO (last, obviously) and .189 slugging percentage
(2nd worst), their only saving grace being a .295 OBP that ranks 23rd.
Reds fans know good and well that it’s been TJ Friedl doing most of the lifting at leadoff this year, as he’s been in that spot for the Reds for several seasons now. And, in many of those years, he’s been quite competent at the job – including the 2025 season where he posted a stellar .364 OBP and plenty good enough 102 OPS+. The problem, though, is that Friedl looks like a shell of himself at the moment, and there’s only so much time you can give him to work it out while still manning one of the most important spots in the lineup every day.
Thing is, the other guy who’s gotten some time at leadoff is the guy who normally hits 2nd all year, and that’s Matt McLain. And in this case, simply sliding him up and bumping TJ to somewhere else in the order wouldn’t appear to solve the world’s problems. Cincinnati’s #2 spot hitters have posted just a .582 OPS so far this season (23rd overall), .260 slugging percentage (25th overall), and .060 ISO (28th overall) – numbers that are nearly as poor as what they’ve received from the leadoff spot.
I posed the question to you all earlier in the week about what the Reds should do at the leadoff position. With this context, I probably should not have been surprised that you pretty clearly favor anyone other than Friedl or McLain for the job.
How that would all shake out is a bit of a tangled mess, however.
Elly De La Cruz has all the tools in the world to be a potentially elite leadoff man even though he’s entrenched as part of the heart of the order under Terry Francona. Free him up from driving in runs and he just might steal every base himself – Ronald Acuña, for instance, hits leadoff for Atlanta with much the same goal.
Will Benson, when in the lineup, could be a guy who’d do OK there. When at his best he sees a ton of pitches and can take a walk, though like most of the rest of the lineup right now he’s struggled out of the gate. That’s kind of the rub here, though, as he, Noelvi Marte, Friedl, McLain, Ke’Bryan Hayes, and Spencer Steer are all guys who have some of the skills needed to hit atop the order yet haven’t put them on display at all at the plate so far in 2026.
What is clear, though, is that something is going to have to change with this lineup at some point soon, whether it’s a complete revival of the parties involved or a major shakeup to get it going.
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