The Cincinnati Reds came into the season with a lot of guarantees in their lineup, which is always a good thing. Manager Terry Francona knew that TJ Friedl was going to be his leadoff hitter while Matt McLain, Elly De La Cruz, Eugenio Suárez, and Sal Stewart would slot in from the No. 2 spot to the No. 5 spot in the order, though it wasn’t clear who would hit where. Early in the season, the lineup has been Friedl, McLain, De La Cruz, Stewart, and Suárez, in that order.
But Friedl, one of Francona’s guarantees, is off to one of the worst starts imaginable.
TJ Friedl is Off to a Very Bad Start in 2026