McLain has added 12 pounds of muscle over the offseason, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

EDGE Analysis

After rehabbing injuries each of the last two offseasons, McLain has been able to focus on training this winter and said he feels like he's getting a "fresh start" heading into the 2026 season. The second baseman slashed a disappointing .220/.300/.343 over 147 regular-season contests in 2025, but he has some bounce-back potential heading into his age-26 campaign.

McLain agreed to a one-year, $2.3 million contract with the Reds on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

McLain missed the entire 2024 season while recovering from shoulder and rib injuries, but he was healthy for the start of the season. He started strong with three home runs and five RBI through the first four games, though that momentum was halted after he landed on the IL due to a hamstring strain. That turned out to be his only stint on the IL in 2025, and he finished the regular season with a .643 OPS with 15 home runs, 50 RBI, 18 stolen bases and 73 runs over 577 plate appearances while appearing in 147 games. With a full season under his belt, McLain will enter the 2026 campaign as the projected everday second baseman for the Reds.

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.