The Reds are clearly looking to upgrade at 3B before the trading deadline. They are looking at Scott Rolen and that’s because 26-year old righty swinging Edwin Encarnacion is regressing at the plate. He has played in 40 games this season and he is 26 for 129 (.202 avg, .703 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 5 homers and 16 RBIs. If the Reds can get the Blue Jays to take Encarnacion straight up for Scott Rolen of the Blue Jays they have to jump and do it.

With Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey no longer on the Reds they need Jay Bruce to pick it back up with his bat. Bruce exploded on the scene when he was first recalled from the minors. In his first 7 major league games, Bruce was 15 for 26 (.577 avg) with 12 runs scored, 3 homers and 7 RBIs. The majors appeared to look easy for Bruce in his first week but then pitchers started to adjust to him. In his last 64 games this season for the Reds, Bruce is 57 for 251 (.227 avg) with 28 runs scored, 9 homers and 26 RBIs. Bruce’s overall numbers still look pretty good but the team is in dire need for him to start hitting well again. Bruce has now played in 71 games this season for the Reds and he is 72 for 277 (.260 avg, .738 OPS) with 40 runs scored, 12 homers and 33 RBIs.

Jeff Keppinger looks tired right now and his numbers in July have shown that. Keppinger has played in 20 games in July and he is 15 for 84 (.179 avg, .442 OPS) with 6 runs scored and 2 RBIs. He has only whiffed 2 times this month which shows that he’s not hitting the ball with the authority that he was earlier in the season. Keppinger has now played in 68 games for the Reds this season and he is 71 for 259 (.274 avg, .694 OPS) with 25 runs scored, 3 homers and 25 RBIs. He’s starting to prove that he’s better as a bench player than a regular.

David Ross and Javier Valentin have not produced as much with the bats as the Reds hoped they would.  Ross is hitting only .196 but he does have 14 homers and 32 RBIs in 209 atbats.  If Ross could get his average up to around the .230 range the Reds could live with that because of his power.  Javier Valentin is hitting .247 with 1 homer and 14 RBIs in only 85 atbats this season.  Look for him to get more playing time if Ross keeps hitting under .200.

Shortstop Alex Gonzalez got off to a hot start this season but he’s been a little cold lately with the bat.  In his last 5 games, Gonzalez is only 2 for 18 (.111 avg, .311 OPS).  Still, Gonzalez is an asset whether he hits or not because of his great glovework at shortstop.