JJ Bleday takes a seat Wednesday vs. Guardians

With Michael Toglia (shoulder) landing on the injured list, Johnson will have another opportunity to show what he’s capable of at the MLB level. The 27-year-old is just 1-for-12 with six strikeouts in 14 plate appearances with the Reds this season.

Bleday’s home run was his 21st of the season. He hit a solo shot off Zack Littell in the sixth inning to complete the cycle. He’s the first Reds player to hit for the cycle since Elly De La Cruz in 2023. After an out-of-nowhere breakout first half where he hit 16 home runs and .243, Bleday is hitting just .190 with five home runs in 35 games since the All-Star break.

It’s the first time he’s sat since July 29. Bleday will almost surely be back in there for game two, since even though he’s slumping — he’s hitting .146 with one RBI in 14 games this month — Terry Francona views him as the team’s one everyday outfielder. Michael Toglia is starting in left against lefty Quinn Mathews in game one.

Johnson was 1-for-12 with six strikeouts and two walks in his 14 plate appearances for the Reds this season. He was backing up at both second base and first base, so the Reds will likely need to make a transacation to add bench depth.

As a team, the Reds only mustered four hits in the contest with Bleday’s double off of Will Dion the only one that went extra bases. He also struck out twice in the contest. For the season, the 28-year-old outfielder is slashing .225/.339/.460 with 20 homers and 47 RBI in 373 plate appearances.

Cincinnati failed to resolve their crowded outfield situation at the trade deadline earlier this week, but made the decision to promote Rodríguez anyway. The dynamic 22-year-old went 0-for-2 with a walk and scored a run against the Athletics in his big-league debut on Tuesday night. He possesses a fantasy-relevant skillset and is worthy of a speculative roster spot in deeper mixed leagues. The big question is whether he’s able to carve out an everyday role over the next few weeks with JJ Bleday, Noelvi Marte, Dane Myers and TJ Friedl still in the mix.

Bleday drew a two-out walk off of Paul Skenes in the opening inning and raced around to score the Reds’ first run on an RBI double by Tyler Stephenson. He then smacked a 386-foot (105.7-mph EV) solo shot off of Skenes in the third inning that tied the score at 3-3. For the season, the 28-year-old outfielder is slashing .229/.341/.472 to go with 19 long balls and 46 RBI.

Game two featured just six hits, three apiece from both teams, and saw the Reds win despite getting struck out 15 times in eight innings by Gavin Williams and Daniel Espino. Bleday’s homer in the first inning was his lone hit in seven at-bats on the day. He’s batting just .187/.309/.362 in 201 plate appearances since the start of June, but with Spencer Steer out and the Reds likely to shed another position player or two before the deadline, his starting spot is probably safe.

Johnson went 0-for-5 in four games in his first MLB stint earlier this season. The 27-year-old is hitting .278/.373/.474 in 61 games at Triple-A with 10 home runs and 11 steals. He will be on the bench on Monday with TJ Friedl starting in left field and JJ Bleday moving over to right field. That could be the regular lineup against right-handed pitchers for the next few weeks.

He had six plate appearances during his two weeks and change on the roster, walking once. Johnson returns to a .290/.388/.489 line with the Bats in 208 plate appearances this year.