Sat Sep 20 23:30:00 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**Reds Shake Up Lineup, Drop De La Cruz to Seventh in Hopes of Sparking Offense**

ST. LOUIS – Facing a crucial series against the Cardinals and with playoff hopes dwindling, the Cincinnati Reds made a significant change to their lineup Monday, dropping All-Star shortstop Elly De La Cruz from his usual third spot to seventh in the batting order. Manager Terry Francona hopes the move will alleviate some pressure on the struggling young star and ignite a stagnant offense.

De La Cruz, who has been in a prolonged slump since August, hitting just .208 with a .551 OPS in that span, has been carrying a heavy load for the Reds this season, leading the team in home runs (19), RBIs (82), and stolen bases (35). Despite his overall numbers, his lack of power in recent months, combined with increased off-speed pitches he’s struggled to adjust to, have concerned the Reds.

“I believe in Elly so much, and I don’t want people pointing fingers at him,” Francona said before the game. “But I do think this can take a little bit of the glare off of him.”

The move also allowed Francona to insert the hotter bat of Miguel Andujar into the third spot against Cardinals left-hander Matthew Liberatore.

De La Cruz responded positively to the change, going 1-for-3 with two walks, including one in a crucial rally in the seventh inning. “There is no pressure. I’m not doing really good right now and [Francona] is doing whatever is best for the team,” De La Cruz said.

The Reds ultimately defeated the Cardinals 11-6, a much-needed win after being swept by the Oakland A’s. With 13 games remaining, the Reds are two games behind the Mets for the final National League Wild Card spot, tied in the loss column with the Diamondbacks and Giants.

Francona remains confident in De La Cruz, emphasizing the importance of getting him back on track. “He’s a big part of what we do. I’d rather spend time thinking about how we get him going than sitting him or resting him.”

While acknowledging a slight dip in De La Cruz’s bat speed, Francona pointed to his still-elite sprint speed as a sign that fatigue isn’t a major factor. Ultimately, Francona believes the team needs to work together to take the pressure off individual players.

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