April 17, 2025
The Cincinnati Reds announced on Thursday that they placed infielder
Christian Encarnacion-Strand (back) on the 10-day injured list with lower-back inflammation and recalled infielder
Noelvi Marte from Triple-A Louisville in a corresponding move. With Encarnacion out,
Jeimer Candelario will move to first base and
Santiago Espinal will start at the hot corner on Thursday against the visiting Seattle Mariners. Although Encarnacion-Strand had an RBI double on Wednesday, he started the season going 9-for-57 (.158) with two home runs, five RBI and 13 strikeouts in 15 games played. Hopefully, he'll look better when he gets over his back injury, but it's unclear if he'll have a short stay on the IL. Espinal figures to benefit the most from a playing-time perspective at third base, but Marte could share starts with him at the hot corner.
UPDATE: CEH will receive an epidural injection to calm his back down.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Cincinnati Reds
April 15, 2025
Cincinnati Reds corner infielder
Christian Encarnacion-Strand (back, hamstring) is back in the starting lineup on Tuesday against the visiting Seattle Mariners, starting at first base and batting seventh against right-hander
Luis Castillo at Great American Ball Park. The Reds held Encarnacion-Strand out of action the last two games with minor back and hamstring injuries, but he's ready to go now. The 25-year-old hasn't been a reliable fantasy asset in the early going in 2025, batting .163 (8-for-49) with two home runs, a double, three RBI, three runs scored, one walk and 12 strikeouts in 13 games played. With
Austin Hays back, he might need to start picking it up at the plate to continue seeing everyday playing time with the Reds. CEH has never faced Castillo in his career.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 14, 2025
According to Charles Goldsmith of Cincinnati Magazine, manager Terry Francona said Reds corner infielder
Christian Encarnacion-Strand (back/hamstring) might get a few days off in a row. He said, "CES is banged up (back/hamstring, which he dealt with in 2023), but he should be available off the bench, and it will be good to get him a few stacked days off." The injuries seem minor, considering he is not being placed on the injured list immediately. Encarnacion-Strand has gotten off to a sluggish start to his 2025 campaign, slashing .163/.192/.306 with only two home runs. In his absence, expect
Noelvi Marte to occupy third base and continue to see more at-bats while Encarnacion-Strand sits for the next few days.
--Nicho Roessler - RotoBallerSource: Charlie Goldsmith
April 2, 2025
Cincinnati Reds corner infielder
Christian Encarnacion-Strand (hand) is starting at first base and batting sixth on Wednesday against the visiting Texas Rangers and right-hander
Jack Leiter at Great American Ball Park. Encarnacion-Strand was hit by a pitch on his right hand in Monday's game against Texas and didn't play on Tuesday. However, the 25-year-old is back in there for the series finale and will face a young hurler who looked much better in his first start of the 2025 season after struggling in his rookie year in 2024. He has never faced Leiter and will come into Wednesday's game carrying a .286 (4-for-14) early-season batting average with a home run, double, RBI, two runs scored, one walk and four strikeouts in his first four games of the year. Power is CES's primary calling card, and he should play regularly for Cincy as long as he's healthy.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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