Reds Aim to Build Momentum as Alexis Díaz Nears Return
The 2025 Cincinnati Reds have been a rollercoaster of a team so far. One game, they’ll light up the scoreboard with 14 runs; the next few, they can’t seem to score at all. Sitting at an even 8-8 after securing their first sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates since 2021, the Reds are hoping to ride the momentum of winning six of their last eight games.
A key piece they’ve been missing is former All-Star closer Alexis Díaz, who has been sidelined with an injury. In his absence, Cincinnati has turned to a closer-by-committee strategy. Díaz was back with the team on Sunday, though not officially activated yet.
On Monday — the team’s off day — the Reds announced that reliever Sam Moll is headed to the 15-day injured list with a left shoulder impingement, retroactive to April 11. This marks the third time Moll has been placed on the IL for the same issue since the start of the 2024 season.
Moll hasn’t looked quite right lately. Since being acquired in 2023 — when he posted an incredible 0.73 ERA and a 0.973 WHIP over 25 games — he was a reliable arm in the bullpen. He followed that up with a solid 3.35 ERA across 48 outings last season. But in 2025, Moll has pitched just two innings across three appearances, allowing four runs on three hits and three walks.
With Díaz already back in the clubhouse and Moll now sidelined, all signs point to Díaz being activated soon — potentially as early as Tuesday. Other key players like Austin Hays and Tyler Stephenson are also nearing returns, but Díaz’s comeback appears to be the most imminent.
When Díaz is locked in, he’s among the best relievers in the league. However, inconsistency has also been an issue — when he’s off, he tends to give up a hit and a walk, putting pressure on himself and the defense. He struggled this spring, but it’s unclear how much his hamstring injury contributed to those issues.
Time will tell if Díaz can return to form and provide the bullpen the anchor it needs.
