McLain is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Pirates.

EDGE Analysis

McLain is in a 6-for-46 drought at the plate, so he will begin Thursday's series finale on the bench. Gavin Lux will handle second base and bat third for the Reds.

McLain isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Athletics.

EDGE Analysis

McLain will get a breather Saturday after going 9-for-32 (.281) with a homer, four RBI and six runs scored through his first 10 games of September. Gavin Lux will start at the keystone instead, moving TJ Friedl into the DH spot and opening up center field for Will Benson.

McLain went 1-for-1 with two walks and a solo home run in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Mets.

EDGE Analysis

McLain and other Cincinnati hitters jumped on New York right-hander Jonah Tong for homers in three consecutive innings. He's launched three homers in the last seven games and extended a hit streak to nine contests, during which he's gone 11-for-27 (.407) with three home runs, six RBI and eight runs. His .230 batting average is at its highest point since April 2.

McLain went 1-for-2 with two walks and a solo home run in Sunday's 7-4 win over St. Louis.

EDGE Analysis

McLain gave the Reds insurance in the eighth inning, when he knocked his 13th homer and second in as many days. It's been a trying season for the middle infielder, who's batting .222 for the season and spent a good deal of the first half below the Mendoza Line (.200). His playing time may take a hit with the expected arrival of top prospect Sal Stewart, who came through the system as a third baseman but has been introduced to second base this season.

McLain went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Cardinals.

EDGE Analysis

McLain's seventh-inning home run brought the Reds within a run, but they couldn't complete the comeback. The homer was his 12th of the season, but his first since July 18 and just his fifth extra-base hit in the second half. August hasn't been kind to McLain, who has a .219/.254/.281 slash line over 21 games this month.

McLain is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Cardinals.

EDGE Analysis

McLain will get the night off after making four consecutive starts at second base. Santiago Espinal will fill in at the keystone and bat ninth.

McLain will start at second base and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Dodgers.

EDGE Analysis

McLain looked to have faded into a part-time role around the middle of the August following a prolonged rough patch at the plate, and though he has yet to get dialed back in, the Reds are giving him the chance to hit his way out of the slump. He'll stick in the lineup for a fourth straight game, though he'll need to heat up before he moves out of a bottom-third spot.

McLain is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.

EDGE Analysis

After going 0-for-5 with four strikeouts in Saturday's 11-inning loss, the slumping McLain will head to the bench for the fourth time in seven games. He's slashing .225/.250/.250 with a 38.6 percent strikeout rate since the start of August, and until he begins to make more contact, McLain could have to settle for a part-time role at second base. Santiago Espinal will occupy the keystone Sunday.

McLain is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies.

EDGE Analysis

McLain will take a breather, and Santiago Espinal will man second base and bat eighth Wednesday. Over the last 30 days, McLain has slashed .279/.326/.349 with one home run, seven RBI, 11 runs scored, three stolen bases and a 7:26 BB:K. The extra-base power hasn't been there for McLain this season. After slugging .507 as a rookie in 2023, McLain missed the 2024 season and has slugged just .339 across 452 plate appearances this year.

McLain will start at second base and bat eighth in Monday's game versus the Phillies.

EDGE Analysis

After receiving a day off Sunday, McLain is all the way down in the No. 8 spot Monday, which is the first time since June 21 that he's batted anywhere other than first or second in a start. McLain has collected jus a .648 OPS since the beginning of July. Spencer Steer has been elevated to the two hole for the Reds.