’ Return to Reds Allows Terry Francona to Quickly Address Lineup Imbalance and Boost Team’s Offensive Potential

By Drew Koch | April 15, 2025

The Cincinnati Reds are beginning to look like their old selves again, and it’s all thanks to the timely return of Austin Hays. With both Matt McLain and Hays back in the lineup this week, Reds manager Terry Francona is finally able to undo a makeshift lineup strategy that had been desperately trying to plug gaps.

The result? A significant boost to the offense and an immediate opportunity to strengthen the team’s chances moving forward.

Before Hays’ return, one of the most pressing issues for the Reds was the reliance on Gavin Lux, a player who, while capable, has been severely hampered by his struggles against left-handed pitching. Lux had been playing nearly every day, starting 14 games, with 11 of those in left field. However, his performance against southpaws had been nothing short of problematic.

Out of 14 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers, Lux only managed to get two hits—both singles—and posted a staggering .393 OPS.

Against right-handed pitchers, however, Lux was far more effective, hitting .243 with a solid .349 on-base percentage and .351 slugging percentage.

But despite these numbers, Francona had little choice but to keep Lux in the lineup, particularly because of the team’s injury woes. Spencer Steer’s shoulder injury kept him on DH duties only, and without Hays, the Reds were left with few other options in the outfield.

Enter Austin Hays.

With the outfielder’s return, Francona now has the perfect solution to a growing problem: the ability to keep Lux off the field when a left-handed pitcher is on the mound.

This strategic move not only alleviates the burden on Lux, but it also allows the Reds to field a more consistent, right-handed-heavy lineup, one that will give them a much better chance of success against left-handed pitchers.

The impact of Hays’ return goes beyond just giving Lux a break. With both McLain and Hays back, Francona is able to reconfigure his lineup to its optimal form.

This includes a healthy mix of right-handed hitters, with TJ Friedl as the lone left-handed exception, and a stronger overall batting order against left-handed pitchers.

Projected Reds Lineup vs. Left-Handed Pitching:

• CF: TJ Friedl

• 2B: Matt McLain

• SS: Elly De La Cruz

• LF: Austin Hays

• DH: Spencer Steer

• 1B: Jeimer Candelario

• RF: Blake Dunn

• 3B: Santiago Espinal

• C: Jose Trevino

With Hays back in left field, Francona now has the flexibility to switch things up, maximizing matchups and minimizing weaknesses.

Lux, who has historically struggled against southpaws, will now be able to rest and come off the bench when needed, rather than being exposed to unfavorable matchups. In turn, the Reds’ offense will be far more balanced, giving them a fighting chance in games against tough left-handed pitchers.

This shift in strategy not only strengthens the Reds’ batting lineup but also gives Francona more tactical options, particularly in critical late-inning situations.

The Reds are now well-positioned to capitalize on favorable matchups, and with the pitching staff continuing to hold up, the team has the potential to make a real push in the National League standings as the season progresses.

In what was a desperate attempt to patch together a lineup that could remain competitive, Austin Hays’ return has given the Reds a newfound sense of balance. Francona’s earlier ploy to keep Lux in the lineup against lefties was, in hindsight, a temporary fix that had to be made out of necessity.

But now, with Hays back in the fold, Francona can confidently roll out a stronger, more cohesive lineup. The Reds’ offense just became a lot more dangerous, and the timing couldn’t have been better.