CINCINNATI (WKRC) – The Reds reached the midway point in their 2025 season on Wednesday standing at 42-39, thanks to 12 wins in their last 18 games. That’s a four-win improvement over last year.

Here are the three best things that happened in the first 81 games this season and the three worst things:

3 BEST THINGS

Elly De La Cruz’s June surge

The Skinny: In the 22 games the shortstop has played in June, 21 of which were starts, he has slashed .346 /424/.716 with seven homers, 16 RBI and 21 runs scored.

He struck out in 17 of his 92 plate appearances (an 18.5 percent clip) compared to striking out 72 times in 256 plate appearances (28.1 percent) in April and May.

De La Cruz actually started to get hot in late May when in seven games from May 24-31 he went 9 for 27 with three homers, two doubles, seven RBI and 10 runs scored.

If he matches his first half production he will finish the season with 36 homers, 110 RBI, 128 runs scored and 42 stolen bases. If he swings the bat anywhere close to what he has the last 29 games he will threaten entry into the 40/40 club and could push for the single-season team record for runs scored, which is 139 set by Bid McPhee in 1888. Frank Robinson has the modern era team record of 134 set in 1962.

Starting pitching (for the most part)

The Skinny: The Reds rank 12th in starting pitcher ERA in all of Major League Baseball and rank sixth among National League teams at 3.76.

Hunter Greene was stellar when healthy (a 2.72 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP in 11 starts) and Andrew Abbott has been downright awesome with a 1.79 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 13 starts.

Nick Lodolo has had his ups and downs, but still boasts 3.63 ERA in 16 starts, while Brady Singer has been serviceable with a 4.31 ERA in 16 starts with an ERA-plus of 104, which is slightly above league average.

The rotation looks like it is going to get a boost, too, from 2024 first round pick Chase Burns, who was dynamic at times in his Major League debut on Tuesday.

The question moving forward is when Greene returns: who fills that fifth spot in the rotation? Nick Martinez is slated to start on Friday against the San Diego Padres after making two straight relief appearances. He didn’t allow a run in either outing after posting an ERA of 4.55 in his first 15 appearances, all of which were starts.

Improved defense

The Skinny: Other than De La Cruz’s MLB position-high 12 errors, not only does the team defense pass the eyeball test, but there are advanced analytics that back it up.

According to FieldingBible.com the Reds rank No. 15 in Major League Baseball in defensive runs saved with 10 after ranking No 28 last season at minus-30.

3 WORST THINGS

Injuries

The Skinny: In addition to Greene’s injury, catcher Tyler Stephenson, outfielder Austin Hays and infielders Noelvi Marte and Christian Encarnacion-Strand have all missed significant time due to injuries.

That has forced manager Terry Francona to give too many starts to Santiago Espinal, who has a meager .580 OPS in 246 plate appearances, and give at-bats to Rece Hinds (4 for 26), Garrett Hampson (3 for 18), Blake Dunn (9 for 60), Jacob Hurtubise (1 for 12) and Tyler Callihan (1 for 6).

In 31 games Hays has hit .303 with six homers, six doubles, three triples and 25 RBI. The Reds need more of that the rest of the way, in more games played.

Matt McLain’s first two months

The Skinny: Perhaps it was the lingering effects from missing the 2024 season due to an oblique injury, but the Reds second baseman struggled big time in the first two months.

In April he posted a slash line of .159/.266.317 with four homers and 31 strikeouts in 94 plate appearances. In May he posted a slash line of .194/.279/.286 with two homers and 33 strikeouts in 112 plate appearances. As a result McLain was demoted to batting ninth in the order.

He has bounced back in June with a slash line of .257/.350/.429 with three homers and 17 strikeouts in 80 plate appearances. McLain also had a 10-game hitting streak from June 11-21.

Struggles against left-handed pitching

The Skinny: The injuries to several key right-handed hitting bats and McLain’s slow start have led to the Reds posting a .637 OPS against left-handed pitchers, while they have posted a .749 OPS against right-handed pitchers.

Even when Hays returns there will likely still be a void for a right-handed hitting outfielder as right-handed hitting Hinds is 2 for 28 in his career against left-handed pitching.

It’s possible that Hays could play right field and Spencer Steer in left field against left-handed pitchers when the team is back at full strength.