Elly De La Cruz chases 30-30 club as Reds face Braves

MLB Elly De La Cruz chases 30-30 club as Reds face Braves

By Nemanja Milosavljević

September 23, 2026 • 6:04 PM EDT

Updated 2 hours ago

Elly De La Cruz chases 30-30 club as Reds face Braves

The 30-30 club in baseball isn’t just a stat—it’s a statement. You need both real power and top-end speed to get there, and only 51 players in the long history of Major League Baseball have ever pulled it off. The Reds haven’t seen many, either. Only Barry Larkin, Eric Davis, and Brandon Phillips have done it in Cincinnati colors.

Now, Elly De La Cruz sits right on the brink of joining them. After drilling his 29th home run and swiping his 29th bag in Tuesday’s opener against the Braves, he’s on the edge of making franchise—and MLB—history. The regular season’s winding down fast, just five games left for the Reds, and let’s be honest: with the club buried deep in the standings, there aren’t many reasons for Reds fans to stay glued to the box scores. But Elly’s electric chase for the 30-30 milestone? That’s appointment viewing. It brings some much-needed juice to an otherwise tough year in Cincinnati.

It’s not just empty counting stats, either. De La Cruz’s end-of-season surge has pushed him to 6.5 fWAR—right behind Bobby Witt, Jr. and Pete Crow-Armstrong on the season leaderboard. That puts him in a serious race for the NL MVP runner-up, which is impressive for a guy still so early in his big-league journey. He’s sixth-best in wOBA at .384 and has an OPS just shy of .900. Put that together, and you’re looking at a player who can impact a game in just about every way imaginable. And don’t forget: De La Cruz is about to go through arbitration for the first time, so the better he finishes, the bigger the payday gets for him and the more excitement for Reds fans moving forward.

There’s just one problem standing in his way tonight: Chris Sale. The Braves have the former Cy Young winner—and current contender—on the hill. So if Elly’s going to smash his way into the 30-30 club, he’ll have to earn it. But that’s exactly what you want if you’re betting on electric moments: the best against the best, with history on the line.

Elly De La Cruz just needs one more home run and one more steal to hit 30-30.
Only three players in Reds history have ever reached this mark.
De La Cruz’s production puts him among MLB’s elite this season.
He ranks 6th in both wOBA and OPS, highlighting all-around offensive value.
The Reds are effectively out of playoff contention, making this chase the team’s key storyline.
Chris Sale, a formidable lefty, is the challenge he faces next.

Why this matters for MLB bettors

If you’re looking for value props, the 30-30 chase gives you the perfect angle. De La Cruz is red-hot, motivated with both a personal milestone and contract leverage on the line. And while Chris Sale is no easy assignment, a player with 29 home runs and 29 steals in late September is swinging with absolute freedom. There’s every chance Elly grabs both his 30th homer and steal before the season’s out.

The elite company Elly joins

Joining the 30-30 club isn’t just about the stat sheet. It’s about recognition among legends—Larkin, Davis, Phillips for the Reds, plus a stacked MLB list. Every time a player approaches it, the pressure ramps up, making every plate appearance a must-watch for bettors and fans alike.

Key takeaways for bettors

Elly De La Cruz needs one home run and one stolen base for 30-30.
Historic context: Only 51 MLB players have ever reached 30-30.
He’s currently third in fWAR in MLB, a serious bat-and-speed combo.
Wagering on his milestone is high-risk, high-reward as he faces elite pitching.
The rest of the Reds’ season is less meaningful in standings, so all focus is on Elly’s stats.
If you like prop bets, look for HR and SB lines while he’s this close.
Arbitration and contract motivation add fuel to his drive.
Don’t forget: Chris Sale tries to spoil the party tonight, raising the stakes.

The bottom line

When a young player gets this close to history, you throw out the standings and zero in on the moment. If De La Cruz can pull off a 30-30 finish, it will not only rewrite Reds history—the MLB betting landscape will light up, too.

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