The Cincinnati Reds struggled to generate offense in recent games, scoring just one run on Sunday and struggling to produce hits. Their offensive woes continued as they lost five consecutive games and eight out of the last ten, despite solid performances from their starting pitchers. Even in their home ballpark, where they usually fare well offensively, they failed to perform.
The absence of key players due to injuries and suspensions, such as Matt McLain, TJ Friedl, and Noelvi Marte, has undoubtedly affected their performance. Their offensive statistics paint a bleak picture, with their collective performance being among the worst in the league.
In road games, their offense has been particularly dismal, with a 77 wRC+ rating, second lowest in the league. Over the past month, their performance has been even worse, with a 71 wRC+ rating, the lowest in the MLB. Against right-handed pitchers, they have fared slightly better but still rank poorly compared to other teams.
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Statistical analysis reveals that their hitting has been consistently weak, with low exit velocities and expected batting averages. Individually, Reds hitters rank poorly compared to other players in the league, with only a few exceptions like Elly De La Cruz.
Their offensive approach, characterized by a high pull rate and low fly-ball rate, hasn’t been effective either. Despite some unluckiness in terms of batting average on balls in play (BABIP), their overall hard-hit rate remains low.
In summary, the Reds are struggling to make solid contact with the ball, often resorting to ground balls or strikeouts. The impending return of TJ Friedl may help, but significant changes are needed to improve their performance.
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