The Reds have activated right-hander Tyler Mahle from the injured list and sent outfielder Jesse Winker to the IL (retroactive to Monday) with a cervical strain, the team announced. Mahle will head to Triple-A Louisville.
Mahle missed just over a month with a hamstring injury. Prior to that, the 24-year-old gave the Reds 102 1/3 innings and 19 starts of 4.93 ERA/4.31 FIP ball. Those numbers don’t look impressive, though Mahle also recorded 9.32 K/9 against 2.29 BB/9 and posted a solid 45.6 percent groundball rate at the same time. He’ll hope that production, not to mention whatever he does the rest of the season (if he returns to the Reds), will help him earn a place in the club’s rotation next year. The group figures to welcome back Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray, Trevor Bauer and Anthony DeSclafani then, while Kevin Gausman could join Mahle in pushing for the last spot.
Winker, meanwhile, represents another of Cincinnati’s promising young players. In his most extensive big league action to date, the 26-year-old has slashed .269/.357/.473 (113 wRC+) with 16 home runs, 38 unintentional walks and 60 strikeouts over 384 plate appearances this season. The lefty-swinging Winker hasn’t been a legitimate option this year versus southpaws, though, as he has hit just .163/.280/.163 against them in 50 PA.
I certainly wish Winker well with his cervix strain. Ouch!
It was described as a cervical strain, meaning the cervical portion of his spine. Read up on etymology of anatomical terminology before posting jokes befitting an adolescent.
Jeez relax dude.
Thanks Sheldon.
Hahaaa!!
The reds will need to send a couple youngsters down or players to the IL until Sept 1 rolls around. The need to find a spot for Votto, Dietrich, Mahle, and Casali. And eventually Winker.
Votto will be out until Sept 1 probably, and Winker will almost certainly be. Mahle was already sent to AAA, he has to spend 10 days there anyways so he will also wait until Sept 1.
O’Grady and Farmer are probably the most likely roster casualties, but both would certainly be back in September.
I’m ready to move on from Winker. He is not built for the long haul and cannot hit LH pitching, so platooning has been it for him.
He platoons very well with Ervin who’s been killing lefties.
I agree, it’s a very good platoon. Maybe Siri will take a step forward in 20 like Aquino has done this season. In the meantime I’ll take the production we’re getting from left field.
Wow, Winker is really toothless against left handed pitching!