Cincinnati Reds News Roundup — September 10, 2026

The Cincinnati Reds were swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers in a lopsided series that ended 14-1 on Wednesday night, with Los Angeles outscoring Cincinnati 23-6 across the three games. Rhett Lowder struggled in the fourth inning, allowing three doubles and a walk while recording just one out before being replaced, unable to contain a Dodgers lineup that scored six runs in that frame alone. The defeat has intensified criticism of the team's front office and organizational direction.

Elly De La Cruz provided the lone bright spot for Cincinnati, hitting his 26th home run of the season and extending his streak to five consecutive games with a homer, the second-longest such streak in Reds history. Despite De La Cruz's individual success, the rest of the roster largely failed to produce, with most of the starting lineup batting under .225 for the series. The lopsided loss prompted calls for major organizational changes, including the potential removal of baseball operations president Nick Krall and hitting coach Chris Valaika.

The sweep underscores broader concerns about the Reds' front office construction. Baseball Prospectus ranked Cincinnati's front office 26th in Major League Baseball, with the organization compiling a 456-500 record under Krall's leadership since 2021 and never finishing better than third place in the division. The front office has excelled at developing pitching talent but struggled in other areas, resulting in what one analyst described as an "incredible run of mediocrity."

On a brighter note, rookie first baseman Sal Stewart continues to have a historically strong season despite receiving insufficient recognition for Rookie of the Year consideration. Stewart leads baseball in run production with a .313 average and .597 slugging percentage with runners in scoring position, an especially notable achievement given that the Reds rank 27th in on-base percentage. In the minor leagues, prospects like 21-year-old Ichiro Cano at Low-A Daytona have impressed with strong performances, though former first-round pick Austin Hendrick has struggled since returning to Double-A.