Juan

Brito

McLain takes a seat for the third consecutive game due to lingering left shoulder soreness. It seems unlikely that he’ll require a trip to the injured list with less than two weeks left in the season, but the Reds aren’t going to rush him back too quickly and risk a setback. It’ll be Juan Brito drawing another opportunity at the keystone in his absence.

McLain was a late scratch from Saturday’s lineup due to left shoulder soreness and he’s still not feeling good enough to give it a go on Sunday. The Reds maintain that it’s a day-to-day situation and McLain isn’t expected to require a return trip to the injured list. Juan Brito will cover second base in his absence and bat seventh for the Reds against Brewers’ southpaw Robert Gasser on Sunday.

Arroyo simply didn’t do enough to justify sticking around over someone like Juan Brito in a bench role with defensive standout Ke’Bryan Hayes back from the injured list. The 23-year-old top prospect has hit just .223 (33-for-148) with zero homers, five RBI and one steal in 50 games at the highest level this season.

The 24-year-old infielder singled in the second inning and scored on Sal Stewart’s sacrifice fly. He then smacked an RBI double in the third that extended the Reds’ lead to 4-0. Brito also led off the fifth inning with a walk and scored on a two-run double by Elly De La Cruz. It was a strong game in what has been a dismal 2026 season with the Reds, as Brito is slashing just .210/.286/.339 with just one homer, eight RBI and a 20/6 K/BB ratio in his 70 plate appearances.

De La Cruz has been limited by quad tightness that forced him out of Sunday’s game. Now that he’s back in the field, Juan Brito is taking a seat tonight.

Brito, who was called up on Tuesday, was hitting .232/.300/.341 in 22 games with Triple-A Louisville since coming to the Reds’ organization. He has started both games since being promoted, going 1-for-6 with the home run, steal, and two RBI. He’s likely off fantasy radars, but we should keep an eye on whether or not he is emerging as an everyday player.

The Reds acquired Brito from the Guardians at this year’s trade deadline. The 24-year-old has hit .232/.300/.341 in 22 games with Louisville since coming to the Reds’ organization.

Brito winds up in Cincinnati after being jettisoned from Cleveland’s 40-man roster earlier on Monday. The 24-year-old infielder was a notable prospect just a couple years ago before hitting .177 across 56 plate appearances in the big leagues earlier this year.

Brito peaked as a prospect in 2024 before missing much of last year. He made his major league debut back in April, but he hit .177/.250/.255 in 56 plate appearances then, and he’s come in at a middling .237/.351/.394 with diminished exit velocity numbers in Triple-A this year. He’s still just 24, so some team might take a look at him. It hurts his stock that he’ll be out of options next year.

Brito is down, Travis Bazzana is up. Brito struggled in his 51 at-bats with the Guardians as seen in a .176 average and .505 OPS. The 24-year-old is considered one of the better hitting prospects in Cleveland’s system, and he should get another shot at some point this year.