21 hours agoCincinnati Reds first baseman
Christian Encarnacion-Strand (hand) is not in the lineup for Tuesday's matchup against the Rangers. The right-handed slugger was hit by a pitch on the right hand in Monday's game and had to be removed from the contest. The X-rays on his hand came back negative, however, it appears the Reds will give him a day off anyway; he is considered day-to-day.
Jeimer Candelario will take over at first for Cincinnati while
Santiago Espinal will man third against the Rangers'
Nathan Eovaldi. Candelario is 2-for-7 with a 1:3 BB:K against the veteran righty, and Espinal is 1-for-9 with a 0:3 BB:K. Candelario, who is batting fifth, carries a much higher barrel rate in his career compared to Espinal, who is batting sixth, so the switch-hitting Candelario may be the better option in DFS formats.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Cincinnati Reds
2 months agoAccording to C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic, Cincinnati Reds infielder
Christian Encarnacion-Strand is expected to see time at third base during spring training. Last season, the 25-year-old was only able to appear in 29 contests due to hand and wrist injuries. During this limited stint, he was unproductive and posted an underwhelming .190/.220/.292 slash line with just two home runs. During the 2023 season, Encarnacion-Strand posted a .270/.328/.477 line with 13 long balls during his first 63 games of MLB action. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Encarnacion-Strand's progression during spring training, as the team will explore other ways to keep him in the lineup. However, he has primarily played first base during his time in the major leagues. Given the power upside he showed as a rookie, he could be worth a look as a high-upside pick late in fantasy drafts if he performs well in spring training.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: C. Trent Rosecrans
5 months agoCincinnati Reds first baseman
Christian Encarnacion-Strand was activated off the 60-day IL on Monday. With Encarnacion-Strand playing in the Arizona Fall League, he was initially on a rehab assignment but with it expiring he needed to be put back on the active roster as he continues to play in the AFL. The 24-year-old hit 32 home runs in 2022 in the minors, then hit another 33 between Triple-A and the majors in 2023, but was limited to just 29 games this season due to a wrist injury that eventually required surgery. Hopefully he can get back on track during the fall and will be ready to fortify the Reds lineup in 2025. Unfortunately for
Amed Rosario, the veteran utility player was designated for assignment in a corresponding move. Despite hitting .307 in 76 games to start the season for the Rays, Rosario was acquired by the Dodgers and then by the Reds, now having played for five different teams since 2020. The 28-year-old will be a free agent heading into the offseason.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: Cincinnati Reds
6 months agoCincinnati Reds infielder
Christian Encarnacion-Strand (hand),
Matt McLain (shoulder) and
Edwin Arroyo (shoulder) will play in the Arizona Fall League, which began play on Monday. Both McLain and Arroyo missed all of 2024 after suffering shoulder injuries. McLain also dealt with a stress reaction in his rib cage. He is slated to play shortstop, second base and center field in the AFL, and he could also play in the outfield. If fully healthy in 2025, McLain is expected to mostly see time at second in Cincinnati. Encarnacion-Strand was limited to 29 games before suffering a season-ending hand injury in June that required surgery. He will be available to play first and third base in the AFL and could also see action in the outfield. The 24-year-old will need to prove himself in spring training in order to find consistent playing time to open the 2025 campaign.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - C. Trent Rosecrans
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