TODAY: Cincinnati officially announced Suarez’s IL placement, retroactive to April 24. Right-hander Kyle Nicolas was also optioned to Triple-A, and Bleday and right-hander Jose Franco were called up from Triple-A in corresponding moves.
APRIL 24: The Reds will place Eugenio Suárez on the 10-day injured list with a low-grade oblique strain, manager Terry Francona told reporters (including Charlie Goldsmith). He was scratched from tonight’s game with what the team initially called mid-back discomfort.
Although oblique strains can linger for hitters, this one doesn’t appear to be particularly serious. Goldsmith writes that the team is hopeful Suárez can resume baseball activities after a brief shutdown and reevaluation. The Reds can backdate the placement to April 23, meaning the earliest he could return is May 3.
Outfielder JJ Bleday was removed from tonight’s Triple-A game after two plate appearances. That seemingly points to him being recalled tomorrow as the corresponding move. It would be Bleday’s first look at the MLB level with Cincinnati. He has been on optional assignment all year but is on a tear in the minors, batting .345 with six homers through his first 23 games.
Bleday isn’t a direct positional replacement for Suárez, but the Reds have used the latter mostly as a designated hitter. He has only made six starts at the hot corner compared to 18 appearances as the DH. They’re a much better defensive team with Ke’Bryan Hayes at third base, but the two-time Gold Glove winner is out to a terrible start at the plate.
Hayes is hitting .081 with one home run in his first 68 trips to the dish. Cincinnati has managed to keep winning despite getting nothing offensively from Hayes, catcher Tyler Stephenson, or any of their outfielders. Suárez hasn’t been particularly productive either, batting .231/.300/.363 with just three home runs through his first 100 plate appearances.
The Reds nevertheless pulled out another improbable win on Friday. Nathaniel Lowe, who drew into the lineup at DH with Suárez out, hit a walk-off two-run homer off Kenley Jansen with two outs in the ninth. That was Lowe’s second of the night, his first two longballs in a Cincinnati uniform. They’re up to 17-9 despite entering the night ranked 24th in MLB in scoring.
Lowe figures to pick up most of the extra at-bats while Suárez is sidelined. The bench skews left-handed and will lean even more in that direction if Bleday is the corresponding move. Lowe has a decent career track record against pitchers of either handedness and got the DH assignment tonight against Detroit southpaw Framber Valdez. Hayes seems assured of continued run at third base for the time being.
Almost wire, to wire
I wonder if this means they are going to give Stewart some playing time at 3b. Steer to 1b for the time being. How much longer can they roll with Hayes? I was stubborn on the you too but he isn’t a prospect anymore he needs to hit at least a bit to justify taking the playing time that he does. It’s gotta be close to the end of the road for Hayes.
On days the Reds want to sit Hayes, while Suarez is out, Sal Stewart can slide over to 3B with Lowe or Spencer Steer at 1B. Bring Hayes in late as a defensive sub.
Another newly-signed free agent hitting the IL after a big walk year. Shocking.
You have to respect Krall’s roster construction to be able to withstand losing two front line starting pitchers and be able to call up a guy like Bleday to fill in for Suarez. This team is on pace to 100 wins
I cant speak to the Reds, but noted recently how Dbacks GM Mike Hazen has done a great job the past two years patching together rosters in the wake of injuries. Dbacks always seem to have high floor guys – versatile and strong defenders, good baserunners, solid bunters, disciplined hitters that draw walks and turn over a lineup – that can step in for a 2-4 weeks.
100 wins with a negative run differential might get Francona into the HOF before he even retires.
You are spot on giving Tito credit for this run. He has perfectly utilized the players he has been given.