Matt McLain’s Adjustments KEY the Success of the Cincinnati Reds Lineup in 2026

Cincinnati Reds eye a breakout year as Matt McLain’s resurgence becomes the pivotal storyline for their 2026 campaign. Can McLain power the offense from the number two spot and spark the lineup alongside Elly De La Cruz, Eugenio Suarez, and TJ Friedl? Steve and Jeff weigh the impact of McLain’s adjustments, marking a 30% boost to his offensive production as the expectation and debating ideal slash lines and WAR expectations.

 

Roster moves and national scrutiny add drama as the Reds ship Tyler Callahan to the Pittsburgh Pirates for hard-throwing reliever Kyle Nicholas. Is Cincinnati’s revamped bullpen finally reliable, or will depth concerns linger? The hosts dissect MLB.com’s disrespectful tier rankings, discuss team growth overlooked by national analysts, and preview why the Reds’ core could thrive amidst skepticism. Are the Cubs overrated, and will Cincinnati silence the doubters in the NL Central? Don’t miss this bold breakdown of the Reds' quest for legitimacy and postseason success.

 

Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…

 

Everydayer Club  

If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join the Locked On Reds community: https://lockedonreds.supercast.com  

 

BOOKMARK Sports Illustrated’s Cincinnati Reds site, Cincinnati Reds Talk!

https://www.si.com/mlb/reds/

 

            -     Also follow @jefffcarr and @soffenbaker on Twitter

 

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!

 

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!

 

PlayStation

This episode of is brought to you by MLB The Show 26. Visit https://mlbthe.show/lockedon and use code “LOCKEDON” to unlock a pack for use in Diamond Dynasty. Pre-Order now, Available March 17th on PlayStation 5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. RATED E FOR EVERYONE.

 

Turbo Tax

For a limited time, you can have your taxes done by a local TurboTax expert for just $150 — all in, if a TurboTax expert didn’t file for you last year. Just file by February 28. Take taxes off your plate and get back to your life.

Visit https://TurboTax.com/local to book your appointment today.

 

Indeed

Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast

 

Gametime

Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.

 

FanDuel

FanDuel is giving you a way to turn that energy into even bigger potential wins with a College Basketball Parlay Profit Boost. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started — Play Your Game.

 

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

 

#Reds #CincinnatiReds #MLB

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.