If the Cincinnati Reds are searching for some pop in the middle of their lineup — and they should be — maybe the answer is sitting down at Triple-A Louisville. One of the Reds' underrated midseason pickups, Ryan Vilade, is on fire at the moment.
Vilade, who was claimed over waivers earlier this season after playing for the St. Louis Cardinals, has already been called up once. The 26-year-old was part of the Reds' 8-1 win over the San Diego Padres back on June 27. Vilade came on as a defensive replacement late in the game (took some heat for failing to catch a fly ball that would've preserved Nick Martinez's no-hitter) and was then optioned back to Triple-A shortly thereafter.