It’s Matt McLain’s world right now and the rest of us are just living in it. He picked up three more hits on Wednesday, including his 5th home run of the spring as he helped lead the Cincinnati Reds to a 6-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday evening in Arizona.
The Highlights
Milwaukee got to Andrew Abbott early on Wednesday afternoon. The Reds lefty walked Andrew Vaughn with one out in the top of the 1st and then gave up a long home run to Gary Sanchez that put the Brewers up 2-0. Cincinnati could get one of those runs back in the bottom of the inning when Matt McLain crushed his team leading 5th home run. They would get two more runs in the 2nd inning when Noelvi Marte led off with a home run and then four pitches later Jose Trevino hit a solo homer of his own to put his team up 3-2.
In the bottom of the 3rd inning the Reds put together a little rally that began with a Matt McLain infield single to lead off the inning. After back-to-back strikeouts followed Dane Myers walked to extend the inning. That set up Noelvi Marte to come through again and he doubled in both runners to push the lead to three runs.
Milwaukee got one of those runs back in the top of the 6th against Tony Santillan. After the reliever got a ground ball double play he served up a fastball at the bottom of the zone at 91.8 MPH that Reese McGuire hit 470 feet for a solo home run.
Cincinnati would take on a run in the bottom of the 8th inning when Carlos Sanchez and Austin Hendrick hit back-to-back doubles before Shane Sasaki hit a “double” into left field that was described by the radio crew as a routine ground ball that went under the glove of third baseman Juan Baez. It’s a liner into left field in the box score that made it 6-3.
Zach Maxwell entered the game for the top of the 9th inning. He worked around a 1-out single to seal the win for the Reds.
You can see the box score for this game here.
News and Notes
Andrew Abbott threw 3.2 innings and allowed six hits, walked two, struck out five, and was charged with two earned runs. He threw 69 pitches and had 42 of them go for strikes.
Matt McLain continues to kill the ball. He went 3-3 with a home run and is hitting .607 with five home runs, five walks, and just two strikeouts in 33 plate appearances so far.
Noelvi Marte also had a multi-hit game, going 2-3 with a double, home run, and three runs batted in.
Relievers Emilio Pagan, Graham Ashcraft, Sam Moll, and Zach Maxwell all threw a shutout inning in this game.
Cincinnati will hit the road on Thursday and they’ll be playing a night game as they take on the Los Angeles Dodgers. First pitch is scheduled for 9:05pm ET. The game will be available through MLB.tv via the Dodgers broadcast. Scheduled to pitch for the Reds in the game: Nick Lodolo, Brock Burke, Tejay Antone, Yunior Marte, and Anthony Misiewicz.
I know it’s only ST, but beating the Brewers still counts for a lot. I’m more tired of losing to the Brewers these last few years than even the Dodgers. And I’ve despised the Dodgers since the 60s.
They may have made a mistake or I may have heard it wrong but I thought the broacast said the game tomorrow was at 9:05 p.m.
https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/2026/03/12
9PM
6:05 PDT
9:05 EDT
That’s my bad. I don’t know if it was just a typo (the 9 is above the 6) or if I just read the game notes that say 6:05 MT and didn’t adjust my brain for it. But I have fixed it in the article now! Thanks.
No biggie of course. Just trying to help as you wanted us to. 🙂
I appreciate it!
I hope Matt has plenty of video of his ST run. Whatever he is doing, he needs to keep doing. In the #2 hole, he could be the key to the Reds offense. Cautiously optimistic that the Reds can be a much better offensive team than last year – low bar, I know. If the pitching treads water they could win more than last year. ST optimism is fun.
I think they are going to be really good offensively Tom
There have been a lot of guy hot as a match in ST that just are flat when season starts and just the opposite also. Hopefully this doesn’t happen to Matt. Same with pitchers.
Don’t think Moll helped his cause even though his inning was scoreless. Three walks just won’t play. Hopefully Williamson is the type who can loosen up quickly enough to pitch relief, something he hasnt had to do before.
I think Brandon Williamson is going to be a starter this Spring. And I don’t think Moll will be on the 26 man roster.
Well, that’s what I think. For whatever that is worth.
You have to wonder if keeping Williamson for the bullpen might mean pitching him twice a week for two innings in scheduled relief of Burns and Lowder, given some innings limits. Perhaps longer if needed as he continues to build up.
I kind of think Williamson will fill the Nick Martinez role. I’m sure they will be watching and limiting innings of Butns and Lowder. Williamson will be 28 in April and it is time for him to do it.
The Reds fate will ultimately be decided by their intradivisonal record against the Brewers,Cubs,Pirates,and Cardinals because the path to October baseball this year will take 87 or more wins to get in.
I’m getting ready to follow the Reds for another season game by game. When they win series, it means I don’t even need to check the standings. I think Matt McLain has a lot to prove this year that he’s the real deal.
Hey MK, I have seen you post similar on Williamson before. I posted this yesterday and would like your thoughts on it, Williamson has been a starter, would that be easier for him to manage knowing when he is going to pitch versus being a reliever for his first year back from rehab?
“I expect Williamson to take one of the starter spots. Then, it is the battle of Wake Forest.
When Hunter returns, he slots for Williamson. Williamson gives the best 120 innings or whatever that is on his limit, then shut him down and do not break seal until 2027.
I do not mess with him in the pen. Keep him familiar with his workload in 2026, the progress him to 150 innings in 2027”
Any late word on Lowe’s status? Still mid-March, so even if he has an opt-out clause, which is likely, it would be nice to keep him one way or another. Any serious injury sours that for both sides.
Think Lowe was in original lineup then was pulled. I just wonder if he was told he wasn’t going to make Opening Day roster and decided to move on or at least check other opportunities.
Always is good to defeat Brewers even in spring training…
Could we say Abbott was better today?
McLain likely is going to have a hard regression in regular season , we should be prepared about that
You think he will regress hard from 1.846 OPS?
I mean most of fans maybe could expect he will hit above .850 OPS this year but he likely won’t , despite we would wish and hope that
I read where Redsvtraded graham ashcraft to Eric Laurier. But none of the main sites are reporting it.
https://nationaltoday.com/us/oh/cincinnati/news/2026/03/11/reds-acquire-veteran-pitcher-eric-lauer-in-emergency-trade/P
that site is not reliable it was a trade idea by a bluejays writer.
https://fansided.com/mlb/this-reds-blue-jays-trade-is-all-but-necessary-after-hunter-greene-injury
I know how you feel Redsvol. I really hate these type of articles. I saw one the other day about the Brewers acquiring Issac Paredes. I thought well that just made Milwaukee better. Then I realized it was just a proposed trade by some baseball “writer”. Totally worthless.
And this one spread like wildfire. Might be an alright trade, but I doubt Krall is too worried about the starting rotation, at least for the first few games. We’ll see what happens.
That would be a buy-high, sell-low trade where we give up three years of Ashcraft for one year of Lauer.
We get to actually watch a baseball game tomorrow.
Certainly energizing to see Matt McLain lighting up the scoreboard so often.
I’m more encouraged by only 2 K in 33 PA so far. While I don’t expect him to maintain a 6% K rate, if he can keep it in the teens it would be huge for his game. You can’t rely much on spring training stats, but I think McLain has at least done enough to get the two spot in the lineup to start the season.
1. Friedl, CF
2. McLain, 2B
3. EDLC, SS
4. Suarez, DH
5. Stewart, 1B
6. Steer, LF
7. Marte, RF
8. Stephenson, C
9. Hayes, 3B
That should be our opening day lineup going against a LHP in Crochet.
8 hole hitters can often surprise. Stephenson in the 8 hole is almost Dodger like. I have McLain reverting back to his 2023 rookie production plus, and Stephenson having a healthy year allowing him to show his full hitting potential. This line up will be very fun. 350-400 abs for Tyler would be great given that we do not need to DH him. Be healthy in your contract year.
I also like the idea of Tito limiting Hayes for health reasons. 350-400 abs to get him back to 2023 levels would be cool.
I’m getting ready to follow the Reds for another season game by game. When they win series, it means I don’t even need to check the standings. I think Matt McLain has a lot to prove this year that he’s the real deal.
So happy to see Mat McLain having a very good Spring. Looks like he is fully recovered from his shoulder injury.
I have seen McLain spelled incorrectly a bunch. This one is new in that this time it is Mat.
I remember Mat Latos as the only Mat I had ever seen. Kind of strange he didn’t make this list: https://playback.fm/people/first-name/mat
McLain is not on this list as that is not his spelling.
I really hope McLain hits 600 this year so that his name is spelled correctly.
Not like those guys Pete Ross, Thom Seever, Jorge Foster, Jojo Morgan, Toni Perez, Frankly Robinson and Keny Griffey, Sr. Or Jr.