Cincinnati Reds News Roundup — September 6, 2026

The Cincinnati Reds defeated the Milwaukee Brewers twice over the weekend, winning Saturday's game 5-3 after a rain delay to even the series, then dominating Sunday's matinee 12-8 to secure the series victory. Elly De La Cruz was the offensive catalyst in both contests, hitting a 438-foot home run on Saturday and driving in four runs on Sunday with a two-run homer and two-run double. Tyler Stephenson also contributed power on Saturday with a two-run home run, while the bullpen closed out both games with Emilio Pagan recording the final outs.

The Reds made roster moves to address their pitching depth, designating left-handed reliever Sam Moll for assignment to create space for right-handed pitcher Graham Ashcraft's return from the 60-day injured list. Ashcraft had been rehabbing from a UCL tear suffered in late May and pitched five games for Triple-A Louisville before his activation. Moll, who posted a 4.79 ERA across 65 games this season, was arbitration eligible and under contract through 2027.

Sal Stewart established himself as the Reds' undisputed rookie single-season RBI record holder with 107, surpassing the previous mark of 106 set by Frank McCormick in 1938. Stewart reached the milestone on August 28th and continued accumulating runs batted in through the remainder of the season. The record had stood unchallenged for decades until modern examination revealed McCormick likely should not have been classified as a rookie under current standards.

The Reds face a longer-term challenge with their star shortstop. Joey Votto predicted De La Cruz will command a 12-year, $700 million contract when he reaches free agency at age 28, citing his defensive abilities and consistent production. Only Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto have signed contracts of that magnitude in baseball history, and De La Cruz previously rejected a larger offer than Votto's franchise record, making it unlikely Cincinnati can retain him long-term. The team also faces uncertainty at catcher, as Tyler Stephenson is set to hit free agency this offseason with limited internal alternatives available.