Cincinnati Reds: With Votto Out, Reds Offense Coming from Unlikely Sources

Since Joey Votto left the lineup on July 16, the Cincinnati Reds have gone 8-2, winning their last seven, and now find themselves just one game behind the Yankees for the best record in all of Major League Baseball.

Over this 10-game stretch, the Reds have scored a combined 51 runs while allowing just 22. The starting pitching has been great during this stretch, but what's most impressive is the combined effort on offense.

The Reds have had seven players during this stretch hitting at or over .286 with on-base percentages, slugging percentages and OPS at or over .317, .350 and .667

Those seven players are:

1. Todd Frazier: .300/.317/.350/.667
2. Ryan Ludwick: .290/.333/.741/1.074
3. Devin Mesoraco: .308/.308/.384/.692
4. Xavier Paul: .444/.500/.555/1.055
5. Drew Stubbs: .361/.425/.500/.925
6. Brandon Phillips .389/.436/.666/1.102
7. Scott Rolen .286/.375/.535/.910

These seven players are leading the offensive charge for the Reds over their impressive 10-game stretch. They have combined for six home runs, 33 RBI, 27 runs and seven steals on 64 hits (16 doubles, six home runs and a triple).

Those seven players have driven in 64.7 percent and scored 52.9 percent of the Reds' runs over the last 10 games.

The rest of the Reds' roster has certainly picked up the slack since Votto went down, and the team has been exciting to watch on a nightly basis.

If this kind of offensive production can continue from this core of players, Votto coming back can only increase the Reds' chances moving forward.