The Reds Lineup is Finally Living up to Expectations

Perhaps the most surprising part of the Reds' recent hot streak at the plate? Matt McLain. Over 74 plate appearances in 20 games, McLain is slashing a paltry .162/.279/.338 with a .617 OPS and 69 OPS+. Not nice.

Last night, McLain hit a single in the seventh inning, snapping a 0-for-21 slump. One single isn't a slump-buster, but it could help the player the Reds expected to be on the same level as Elly De Le Cruz turn it around.

However, through that slump, the rest of the lineup picked him up. Most notably, De La Cruz, Gavin Lux, and, surprisingly, Noelvi Marte. The superstar shortstop has been nothing short of spectacular these last couple of weeks and, as the Reds broadcast put it, he's not even hot yet. Currently, De La Cruz is riding a 12-game hit streak with 16 hits (one double, two home runs), six RBI, seven walks, and eight stolen bases.

Additionally, he's in the midst of a 17-game on-base streak. In those 17 games, he's slashing .294/.372/.456 with a .8282 OPS. He has 20 hits, five of which are extra-base hits, and nine of his 11 stolen bases.

Not to mention how incredible he's been at shortstop.

Meanwhile, Lux leads the National League with a .352 batting average to go with .438 OPB, .473 SLG, and .911 OPS. The two-time World Series champion is in the midst of his own 12-game hit streak. However, in this 12-game hit streak, he's been among the best in baseball.

In this streak, Lux has 22 hits (seven multi-hit games) and seven walks. Of those 22 hits, six have been extra-base. Over the last 15 days, Lux leads all batters with a.525 BA,  .587 OPB, and 1.287 OPS. His .700 SLG is seventh.

How has he done it? Patience. According to his Baseball Savant page, he's in the 99% percentile in chase rate (16.0%). We've gotten to the point where if Lux doesn't swing, it isn't a strike. What's even more impressive is that his Baseball Savant page has plenty of blue like Bat Speed (34th percentile), K% (33rd percentile), and Barrel% (34th percentile).

Meanwhile, a player who looked like he was a bust is getting back to form. After not making the roster out of Spring Training, Marte has forced his way into the lineup over the course of the last road trip. After starting off the season 1-for-12, he broke out with five hits, kicking off his current 16-for-34 run over the last eight games. In this run, he has 16 RBI and is leading all batters with a .775 SLG. 

Don't forget about Austin Hays either. The buy-low acquisition has already accumulated more bWAR in 13 games than he did all of last year. Hays has reached safely in 12 of his 13 appearances, with hits in 10. 

Last year, when any of the Reds' bigger stars went cold, the entire lineup went cold. This year, it looks like they can pick each other up. McLain could be the 1b to De La Cruz's 1a, but thankfully, the Reds have overcome his slump.