Cincinnati Reds News Roundup — September 1, 2026

The San Diego Padres shut out the Cincinnati Reds 5-0 on Monday, holding Cincinnati to five hits while the Reds went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. The loss opened a three-game series and underscored the team's persistent offensive struggles in crucial situations.

The Reds' offensive woes extend beyond Monday's game. The team ranks last in baseball in batting average with runners in scoring position at .217 and last in driving in runners on third with fewer than two outs at 42.2%, despite ranking sixth in home runs. This situational hitting failure has resulted in a run-scoring pace of 670 runs, which would rank 23rd in the majors and represent a decline from last season, putting hitting coach Chris Valaika's job security in question heading into the offseason.

The team's roster construction faces mounting criticism as the Reds remain in last place in the NL Central despite possessing three young stars: Sal Stewart with 30 home runs and 100 RBIs, Elly De La Cruz with 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases, and Chase Burns with 15 wins—the first team in MLB history to achieve this combination in a single season. These three players earn only $2.367 million combined while five other players consume nearly 37% of the team's $129 million payroll. Concerns about De La Cruz's health have intensified, with reports of a potential quad injury and criticism of the team's failure to provide adequate rest despite his injury history.

The Reds made September roster moves to manage Chase Burns' workload, activating left-hander Brandon Williamson from the 60-day injured list and recalling infielder Juan Brito. Williamson, sidelined since April with shoulder fatigue, will start Wednesday against San Diego with Burns operating as a reliever with reduced pitch counts. Meanwhile, 22-year-old right fielder Héctor Rodríguez has emerged as a potential building block after a slow start, going 12-for-37 with four home runs and a 1.066 OPS since mid-August.