Maybe it’s time to move Elly De La Cruz back up toward the top of the Cincinnati Reds lineup.
It’s at least time to sit up and take notice of what the Reds’ two-time All-Star has suddenly started to do for the Reds just as they’ve needed him most, stirring from a lengthy slump with a breakout week as the Reds try to close out a playoff berth.
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“If he wants to get hot, that will be really welcomed,” Reds manager Terry Francona said.
That much already seems to be happening.
Since Francona finally dropped his shortstop down in the order from the No.3 spot for the first time this season after the team got swept by the A’s in Sacramento, De La Cruz has come to life at the plate.
Elly De La Cruz returning to the dugout after his second home run in four games. After hitting one in his previous 74.
Whether it’s the reduced pressure in the lower part of the order, as Francona said he hoped De La Cruz would find, or a different approach from pitchers, the switch-hitter began drawing walks, then started raking.
With a three-hit game against the Pirates to open the week – including a two-run homer and a walk – De La Cruz is 8-for-22 (.364) with two homers, two doubles and eight walks in eight games since the move (through Sept. 23).
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That also adds up to a .533 on-base percentage and 1.260 OPS the eight games.
And consider that until those two home runs in that stretch, he had hit one since June 23.
“It goes without saying. When he’s doing that it’s a different lineup,” teammate Matt McLain said. “He looks good right now.”
Along the way De La Cruz has crept from seventh to sixth in the order, and then to fifth in that Pirates opener — a 4-2 loss despite his production at the plate and two excellent plays in the field.
“I’ve been feeling good lately,” he said. “My whole mentality is just win. It doesn’t matter what I do. It’s just thinking about winning.”
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Throughout his barely two-year career, De La Cruz has had a knack for coming up big in big games or on big stages, including a double and two walks in his debut, a 458-foot home run in his second game, a cycle in his 15th game when facing Ronald Acuna and the 2023 Braves, two four-hit games at Dodger Stadium and a homer and triple to upstage Aaron Judge in his first career game at Yankee Stadium.
“He’s a game changer,” teammate Spencer Steer said. “He can take over a game. He can take over a series. He’s that kind of player.”
There are no games or series bigger than these final two of the season with a playoff berth in their reach.
“I feel really good,” said De La Cruz, who also said he feeds off the bigger crowds of almost 30,000 — including an especially loud, raucous bunch for the Pirates series opener.
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“It gets us going as a team,” De La Cruz said. “I know we lost today, but I appreciate the fans coming out.I hope they’ll be there tomorrow, too.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Elly De La Cruz heating up for Cincinnati Reds as NL playoffs loom