The Reds announced a few moves before tonight’s game in San Francisco. Cincinnati placed second baseman Matt McLain on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to April 5, with a left hamstring strain. They also optioned righty Carson Spiers while recalling outfielder Will Benson and infielder Noelvi Marte from Triple-A Louisville.
The team specified that McLain’s hamstring strain was “slight,” so it’ll probably be a short-term absence. He had not played since Friday. Injured list stints can be backdated by a maximum of three days. The Reds were initially hopeful that McLain would be able to avoid the IL but seemingly knew he’d need at least a few more days and did not want to continue playing with a short bench. He’ll be eligible to return a week from today.
McLain had started seven of the first eight games at the keystone. The former first-round pick hit three home runs but was batting .214. Santiago Espinal has made three starts at second base, while Gavin Lux has started one game. The latter is in the lineup tonight against Giants right-hander Landen Roupp. Lux has mostly played left field in the early going. Blake Dunn gets the start there this evening. Marte, Benson and Espinal are all available off the bench.
Spiers heads to Louisville after opening the season in the rotation. The 27-year-old got the fifth rotation spot with Rhett Lowder and Andrew Abbott beginning the year on the injured list. Spiers combined for 9 1/3 frames of five-run ball over two starts. He allowed one run over six innings against the Rangers in his season debut before surrendering four runs across 3 1/3 innings in Milwaukee on Sunday.
It seems Abbott will be back from the injured list this weekend. The left-hander has made a pair of rehab appearances in Louisville. He got up to 92 pitches across 4 1/3 innings on Sunday. He’s back to essentially a full workload after falling slightly behind schedule in camp because of some residual shoulder discomfort. Abbott, who turned in a 3.72 ERA over 25 starts last season, will slot behind Hunter Greene, Nick Martinez, Brady Singer and Nick Lodolo.
Cincinnati also provided an encouraging update on Tyler Stephenson last night. Pat Brennan of The Cincinnati Enquirer writes that Stephenson was cleared to begin baseball activities after an MRI. The fifth-year catcher suffered a mild oblique strain halfway through March. Jose Trevino has been pushed into primary catching duty while being backed up by Austin Wynns. They’ve played very well, combining for a .286/.333/.536 line over 31 plate appearances.
Austin Hays?
And Willie Mays Hayes?
Hits like Mays, runs like Hayes.
You may run like Mays but you hit like [spit]
Hays is supposed to rejoin the team following the current road trip.
Sorry but Matt McLain is Senzel 2.0 as far as how fragile he is…
Senzel never had the success that McLain has had
Ya I know…read my post more carefully…..
Like, every word. Nah. It’s easier to just react.
Not about to bank on it, but it sure would be a huge shot in the arm for the team if Benson and Marte could come up here and bash..
That will add some offense with their massive success last year.
Good news is that Abbott, Hays and Diaz could all be back soon, Ty Steve cleared for baseball activity. Small sample size in AAA, but Benson and Marte look a lot better than last year.Bring ’em up and see what they can do before McLain and Hays are healthy.
Reds should be playing Noelvi Marte at 2B. Don’t have him on the bench.
I agree ! So many times you see a hot bat brought up then benched at the major league level. Marte has owned every level and now it’s time he does it in the show !
Marte should be at 3B instead of Candelario. With Lux/Espinal at 2B while McLain is out.