TJ Friedl returns, but the Reds' lineup is still looking to get back on track

For the first time all year, the Cincinnati Reds’ lineup looked close to normal again.

After the Reds activated center fielder TJ Friedl from the injured list on Tuesday and slotted him back in the leadoff spot, the Reds filled every spot in the lineup with a player who was projected to be a regular at the start of spring training. They’re still missing the injured Matt McLain and the suspended Noelvi Marte, but the lineup looked like a good one with Friedl back in a familiar role.

But on Tuesday, the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Reds, 6-2. Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen shut down the Reds with six scoreless innings, continuing a terrible run for the Reds’ lineup.

Friedl didn’t solve the Reds’ woes on offense, but he provides a boost in the middle of a daunting stretch in their schedule.

“I’m just going to go out there, play my game and do what I do,” Friedl said. “The worst thing you can do is put pressure on yourself. Especially in this game. A game of failures. For me, I’m happy to be back with these guys in the clubhouse and be back on this team. I’ll do whatever I can on the field to make an impact and the rest will take care of itself.”

Before the game, Friedl addressed “the elephant in the room.” The reeling Reds entered Tuesday with the second-to-worst batting average in MLB, and they had only scored four total runs in their previous four games.Friedl was the Reds’ most valuable player last season, according to the Wins Above Replacement metric. But he knows that one player can’t fix an offense.

“This game is already hard enough,” Friedl said. “If you put any pressure on top of that, it’ll make it more difficult. For me, I’m just going to do what I do and play my role.”

In 2024, the Reds strike out too much. Aside from Elly De La Cruz, young hitters haven’t taken significant steps forward. A few, including Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Will Benson, look like they’ve taken a step back. And veteran addition Jeimer Candelario hasn’t provided the consistent approach that the Reds expected.

As the offense has struggled over the last few weeks, the Reds have desperately needed a boost. Friedl returned on Tuesday as a candidate to fill that role.

“He’s a spark plug,” Reds second baseman Jonathan India said. “He steals bags. He gets on base. He does everything for us. It’s amazing to have him back in the lineup.”

Friedl, who fractured his wrist when he dove for a fly ball in spring training, only needed four rehab games in Triple-A before he returned to the big league roster. When he had a brace on his wrist in early April, he did conditioning drills with the rest of the team to stay in shape. He also kept throwing, asking a coach to catch the ball for him when it got thrown back his way.

Then he went to the Reds’ spring training complex in Arizona, where Friedl added tracking fly balls into his routine. When he was cleared to swing the bat, he felt like he quickly found his timing.On his rehab assignment, Friedl hit the ground running and completed his quick return to the big leagues.

“TJ does a lot of things on the field well,” Reds manager David Bell said. “(He just has to) do that. It all matters. It all contributes. We’ve got 26 guys who are going to contribute. TJ is a big part of our team. He knows exactly who he is.”

Against the Diamondbacks on Tuesday, the Reds only tallied one hit against Gallen. Reds starting pitcher Frankie Montas dialed up his velocity to the highest that it’s been in two years, and he allowed one earned run plus one unearned run in six innings.

But right before the Reds got the chance to take advantage of a shaky Diamondbacks bullpen in the bottom of the seventh inning, Reds reliever Justin Wilson allowed four runs as the Diamondbacks took a 6-0 lead.

“The vibes are still high,” Friedl said. “Through the sickness and the injuries and everything that has happened so far, everyone I talked to on this team, they’re feeling good. It’s still May 7. There’s a long season ahead.”

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: TJ Friedl returns, but the Cincinnati Reds' lineup isn't back on track