Reds’ Early Season Issue Becoming Hard to Ignore

CINCINNATI -- It can be debated at what point in the season is no longer considered "early." But five games into the season is definitely still early. It's just five games for crying out loud. There are still 157 games remaining.

That said, the first month of the season can be used to identify potential strengths and weaknesses within a club. For the Reds, one of those weaknesses could, keyword "could," be hitting with runners in scoring position.

Through five games, the Reds have struggled to consistently get that one hit in the game that breaks it open or, in the case of Tuesday night, gets them back into the game. The only time they got that big hit was Eugenio Suarez clubbing a game-winning three-run home run in the sixth inning of the third and final game against the Boston Red Sox.

Other than that, though, the Reds have struggled to hit with runners in scoring position. It reached a low point Tuesday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates, an 8-3 loss. The Reds went 0-10 with runners in scoring position and left 11 runners on base. Despite falling behind 6-1, the Reds loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth with Matt McLain and Elly De La Cruz due up. Both of them struck out.

Then in the bottom of the eighth, with the Reds now down 6-3, there were runners on the corners with one out for pinch-hitter Nathaniel Lowe. Lowe hit into a double play to end the inning.

Through five games, the Reds are 1-20 with two outs and runners in scoring position. The Reds have struck out 12 times in 24 plate appearances with just four walks. In total, the Reds are 6-43 with runners in scoring position through five games and have left 45 runners on base.

There was leaving the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the sixth on Opening Day. The Reds also left the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth in the second game against Boston. Then, there was Tuesday night.

There are going to be nights when the starting pitching doesn't have it. That's going to happen throughout 162 games. Can the offense cover for when that happens again? Tuesday night, they couldn't.

It felt like last year there was a certain way for the Reds to win: get great starting pitching, score a lot of runs, or just enough, and win. That can't happen this season. This offense can't be too predictable, meaning they score a lot of runs one night and can't carry it over to the next game.

The Reds being able to come through with runners in scoring position and hit in the clutch is what's going to define the ceiling of this team. We know their starting pitching will be good. They will have hitters hit for power.

But it's hitting when it counts in high-leverage situations that will define how good this team is. They need to be versatile offensively. It could be the difference between barely finishing over .500 and winning 90 games. That ability will be tested on Wednesday when the Reds face Pirates ace and reigning NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes. They may only get so many chances to dent the scoreboard. They have to take advantage of those situations.