Reds vs. Guardians Tuesday MLB odds, props: Matt McLain will not return from injured list for Cincinnati this season

Tuesday was to be a very important day for the National League Wild Card-contending Cincinnati Reds, as the expectation was that terrific rookie infielder Matt McLain, arguably the team MVP, was going to be activated from the injured list and start in Cleveland. Unfortunately for the Reds, McLain aggravated his right oblique Sunday and has been shut down for the remainder of the season, a big blow to their playoff hopes. Cincinnati is a short favorite tonight on the SportsLine consensus.

Cincinnati was 18-22 when McLain was called up from the minors in mid-May and went 50-42 until he suffered a right oblique strain in late August. If he had gotten through Sunday's rehab game fine, he would have been activated Tuesday.

"It definitely sucks. I knew it would be tough to come back. I really wanted to for our team but it just didn't happen unfortunately." McLain said.

McLain finishes with a .290 batting average and 15 homers, 50 RBI, 14 steals and a .864 OPS. He posted a Wins Above Replacement of 3.6, No. 2 among Cincinnati everyday players despite all the time he missed. His .882 OPS was the best by any Reds batter through his first 85 career games. In just his second big-league week, McLain was named NL Player of the Week.

The Reds (80-77) are 2.5 games back of the NL's final Wild Card spot and are trying to become the third team ever to make the playoffs following a 100-loss season (2017 Twins, 2020 Marlins) and the fourth playoff team ever with a losing home record during the regular season (1981 Royals, 19-28; 2001 Braves, 40-41; 2020 Marlins, 11-15). Cincinnati is a +1200 longshot to make the playoffs.

Hunter Greene (4-6, 4.24 ERA) starts on the mound Tuesday. He has been excellent since a brief stay on the COVID list and struck out a career-high 14 batters last time out against the Twins, but took a no-decision when the bullpen blew it. Greene has never faced the Guardians, who are eliminated from playoff contention. He is set at over/under 5.5 strikeouts despite totaling 29 in his past three games. 

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