When Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jesse Winker was asked about the high number of Reds players who could return soon from injuries, Winker grinned.
“That’s big,” Winker said. “Everybody looks excited. It’s a fun time, it’s a fun time to be playing baseball in the city of Cincinnati.”
Coming out of the All-Star break, the Reds received an immediate boost when reliever Michael Lorenzen came off the injured list. Over the next week, starting pitchers Sonny Gray and Jeff Hoffman could also come off the injured list.
More:Michael Lorenzen returns to Cincinnati Reds bullpen for second-half playoff push
Here’s a look at where the Reds players on the injured list stand coming out of the All-Star break.
Jeff Hoffman: Reds starter Jeff Hoffman has been out since May with a right shoulder impingement, but he’s was scheduled to make his final rehab start with the Dayton Dragons on Friday night. If all goes well, Hoffman would be lined up to start on Wednesday against the New York Mets.
With Hoffman on the way back, Reds manager David Bell said the Reds could briefly use a six-man rotation.
“There is a chance we would add (Hoffman) in for a couple of reasons,” Bell said. “Some of our starters with (Tyler) Mahle pitching tonight, Luis (Castillo) pitching tomorrow, they're getting an extra day or two, but not an extra four days. There was only so many guys we could do that with, where we could give them a larger break.”
More:Cincinnati Reds set rotation for series vs. Milwaukee Brewers, make roster move
“It would probably be temporary to go to a six-man rotation for this homestand and create a couple of starts where guys are getting an extra day or two as opposed to the big long break at one time.”
Sonny Gray: Gray (rib cage strain) is scheduled to start in Sunday’s series finale, and he won’t have missed a start during his time on the IL.
“For him to still feel great and feel ready to go on Sunday is a great sign,” Bell said. “This time we're hoping to have him back for the rest of the season.”
Tejay Antone and Lucas Sims: The Reds have been without their two most productive relievers since June, and Bell said they’ll be out until at least August.
Sims is out with an elbow sprain, and Antone is out with a right forearm strain.
More:Nick Castellanos has another magical moment as the Reds win the series over the Brewers
“I don’t see them pitching in the major leagues with our team by the end of July at this point with where they are now,” Bell said. “That is not a setback. I know I mentioned July a few times. I think that was more of my hopeful or wishful thinking than anything I was told for sure.”
Nick Senzel: Senzel recently turned a corner as he comes back from a knee injury that occurred in May. While Senzel has started baseball activities, he’s not expected to return before the end of the month.
“He's still making his way, adding activities,” Bell said. “He's taking fly balls, taking ground balls, doing more and more… With only two weeks or so left in July, I'd expect all of those guys back in August.”
WARREN OUT: The Reds placed reliever Art Warren on the 10-day injured list on Thursday with a left oblique strain, and Bell said he expects Warren to miss between three and six weeks.
More:Cincinnati Reds set rotation for series vs. Milwaukee Brewers, make roster move
“You have to make sure they heal all the way, so he doesn’t re-injure it, it does take some time,” Bell said. “Art was doing a great job for our bullpen. He stepped in and made the most of his opportunities and was becoming a big part of our bullpen.”
ROSTER MOVE: Since Lorenzen was on the 60-day injured list all season, he hadn’t taken a 40-man roster spot. With Lorenzen returning Friday, the Reds needed to create a 40-man roster spot in a corresponding move.
Before Friday’s game, the Reds moved infielder Alex Blandino to the 60-day IL.
Source link
