1 week agoThe Cincinnati Reds announced that they have activated infielder
Matt McLain (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list, and he is starting at second base and batting second on Tuesday against the visiting Seattle Mariners and right-hander
Luis Castillo at Great American Ball Park. McLain will be back in the lineup for the first time since straining his hamstring on April 4. With McLain returning,
Gavin Lux moves back to left field and will hit cleanup on Tuesday. McLain, a former first-rounder out of UCLA, did have three home runs in his first eight games before getting injured, but he had also gone just 7-for-28 (.214) in his first 31 plate appearances. It's been a bit of a slow start for the 25-year-old after he missed all of the 2024 campaign, but he's worth rostering in most fantasy leagues for his power/speed upside in a great home hitting environment in Cincy. He has never faced Castillo in his career. Manager Terry Francona said the team may have to manage playing McLain every day over the next week, but other than that he has no limitations.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Cincinnati Reds
2 weeks agoCincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona said he's pretty confident that second baseman
Matt McLain (hamstring) will return from the 10-day injured list when he's eligible next Tuesday, April 15. The Reds placed McLain on the IL early this week as a precaution with a left-hamstring strain, and he should be able to rejoin the team early next week. Because the Reds don't seem very concerned with his injury, the 25-year-old will likely skip a minor-league rehab assignment altogether.
Gavin Lux has seen some action at the keystone with McLain out this week, but
Santiago Espinal is making the start at second and is batting eighth for the Reds on Friday. When McLain returns, he will return to starting duties at the position for the Reds. The former first-rounder looked great in his rookie season in 2023 before missing all of last year due to injury. He went 6-for-28 with three homers, a double and five RBI before his injury.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Charlie Goldsmith
2 weeks agoThe Cincinnati Reds announced on Tuesday that they placed infielder
Matt McLain (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to April 5) with a slight left-hamstring strain. In other moves, the team recalled outfielder
Will Benson and infielder
Noelvi Marte from Triple-A Louisville and optioned right-hander
Carson Spiers to Louisville. Because it's considered a minor injury, the 25-year-old McLain could be ready to return from the IL as early as next week.
Gavin Lux is making another start at second base on Tuesday against the San Francisco Giants, but
Santiago Espinal could also see starts at the keystone if Lux is moved back to the outfield. Benson and Marte will provide depth in the outfield and infield, respectively. McLain has hit just .214 (6-for-28) in his first eight games in 2025, but he did club three homers, and he is worth stashing in all fantasy leagues while he recovers.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Cincinnati Reds
2 weeks agoCincinnati Reds second baseman
Matt McLain (hamstring) will not return to the starting lineup for Monday's series opener at Oracle Park against the San Francisco Giants, but he'll be available off the bench. McLain did some supervised running and work on the field before the Reds made the call to hold him out for a fourth straight game due to left-hamstring soreness.
Gavin Lux is starting at the keystone and is hitting cleanup for the Reds versus Giants right-hander
Logan Webb. Fantasy managers should treat the 25-year-old McLain as day-to-day, and he could return to the lineup as early as Game 2 of the series on Tuesday. The former first-rounder is hitting only .214 (6-for-28) through his first eight games, but he does have three homers and five RBI. Lux has plenty of experience against Webb, batting .286 with three RBI in 21 career at-bats.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Pat Brennan
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