Rays have an NL Central problem, made worse by Monday's loss to Reds

Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times on Apr 20, 2026

Published in Baseball

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Rays will be happy to be done with the National League Central.

Monday’s 6-1 loss to the Reds was their ninth in 13 games against teams from that impressively competitive division. They have lost two of three to, in order, the Cardinals, Brewers, Cubs and Pirates, with the Reds the last team to face.

That is a stark contrast to their 8-1 record against American League teams, as they are 2-1 against the Twins and swept back-to-back three-game series from the Yankees and White Sox.

The Reds jumped on the Rays (12-10) right from the start in Monday’s opener of a six-game homestand at Tropicana Field.

Matt McLain doubled with one out off Jesse Scholtens, and then with two outs Sal Stewart hit a two-run homer.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said before the game that a product of facing NL teams they only see one series a year is being unfamiliar with some of the players.

For example, he cited Stewart as a guy “who we don’t know,” but noted: “He’s got off to a great start, (we’ve) got to be mindful of where he is in the lineup,” batting between Elly De La Cruz and Eugenio Suarez.

Worse than the 2-0 hole, the Rays wasted a prime chance to get out of it as they loaded the bases to open the home first against Reds starter Rhett Lowder, but ended up with just one run.

Chandler Simpson and Junior Caminero singled, then Jonathan Aranda walked. Yandy Diaz worked back from a 1-2 count to draw a walk that forced in a run, but the Rays couldn’t do anything else.

Jake Fraley struck out looking on a pitch he challenged unsuccessfully, Cedric Mullins also went down looking, and Nick Fortes grounded into a force out.

Scholtens, called up and then slotted into the rotation (to start or to work bulk innings in relief) after injuries sidelined Ryan Pepiot and replacement Joe Boyle, kept it close for a while.

He allowed a run in the third after TJ Friedl doubled with one out. Friedl went to third on a grounder that Caminero gloved but missed on tagging Friedl and was late on the throw to first. De La Cruz followed with an RBI single.

The Reds separated the game with two more runs in the sixth when Rece Hinds doubled in Suarez (who singled) and Spencer Steer (who was hit by a pitch).