18 hours agoCincinnati Reds outfielder/corner infielder
Spencer Steer is not in the team's starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field.
Jeimer Candelario is serving as the designated hitter and is batting fifth, while
Santiago Espinal is playing third base and batting eighth against Brewers left-hander
Tyler Alexander. Candelario has never faced Alexander in his career, while Espinal is hitless in just three at-bats. When considering that Steer only played in three spring training games due to a minor shoulder injury, it isn't all that surprising that he's off to just a 1-for-18 start to the 2025 regular season at the plate. The 27-year-old right-handed hitter has yet to play on defense because of his shoulder, either, being limited to DH duties. Candelario hasn't been much better, going 5-for-25 with three RBI, two walks and eight strikeouts in seven games played.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
7 days agoCincinnati Reds outfielder/corner infielder
Spencer Steer is out of the team's starting lineup on Saturday against the visiting San Francisco Giants at Great American Ball Park. Despite an off day on Friday, Steer will take a seat for Game 2 of the regular season following an 0-for-4 performance on Opening Day on Thursday in which he went down on strikes three times. The 27-year-old was dealing with a shoulder issue in spring training that limited him to just seven plate appearances in the Cactus League, so the Reds aren't going to push him early on in 2025. With Steer sitting against San Fran,
Jeimer Candelario will serve as the designated hitter for the Reds and
Santiago Espinal will start at third base against Giants veteran right-hander
Justin Verlander. Candelario and Espinal have a combined 14 career at-bats against Verlander, and they've both taken him deep once.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 week agoCincinnati Reds first baseman/outfielder
Spencer Steer (shoulder) will be active on Opening Day. Earlier in camp, the Reds said that Steer would open the campaign on the injured list. However, he was able to progress and will not miss the start of the campaign. However, starting left fielder
Austin Hays (calf) will instead be placed on the 10-day injured list. During camp, Steer has played exclusively as a designated hitter, which suggests he will not be able to play in the field at the start of the season. Last summer, Steer appeared in 158 contests and posted a .225/.319/.402 slash line with 20 home runs and 25 stolen bases. Under the hood, he generated a modest .315 xwOBA with a low .235 xBA. However, he placed in the 73rd percentile in sprint speed. Fantasy managers should expect the 27-year-old to have an everyday spot in the lineup and does carry a high-floor in category formats given his ability to hit for power and steal bases.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Charlie Goldsmith
2 weeks agoThe Cincinnati Enquirer's Gordon Wittenmyer reports that Cincinnati Reds corner infielder/outfielder
Spencer Steer (shoulder) will open the season on the injured list. While Steer's shoulder injury isn't considered serious -- he played in a minor-league game on Thursday -- the Reds are playing it safe and holding him out to open the 2025 regular season. The 27-year-old was initially shut down due to his ailing shoulder in late February, and he just hasn't had enough at-bats to be trusted in the starting lineup early on. However, barring a setback on a minor-league rehab assignment to start the year, Steer should definitely make his season debut in the big leagues by the end of April. With Steer opening on the IL, the biggest beneficiary to open the regular season is likely to be
Austin Hays in left field.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Gordon Wittenmyer
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