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CINCINNATI – The Reds activated Mike Moustakas from the 60-day injured roster on Friday, but another domino had to fall to bring the third baseman back into the starting lineup. Moustakas’ return meant that former All-Star third baseman Eugenio Suárez was transferred to the bench.
Beating fifth, Moustakas showed no rust from the layoff. The slugger hit a two-run JT Brubaker double starter in the first inning.
When Moustakas left the roster in May with plantar fasciitis in his right foot, Suárez was playing shortstop. Rookie Jonathan India has since locked himself in at second base – where Moustakas played last season – and Kyle Farmer established himself as the regular shortstop and played well defensively and offensively.
Heading into this season, it would have been hard to imagine Suárez – who hit 49 home runs in 2019 – would be the odd one out. Despite being tied for first on the team with 22 home runs, he has struggled attacking all season and started the day averaging 0.177 / 0.260 / 0.379 scoring 70 wRC + in 105 games. . Sometimes he was also not sharp defensively.
“At the start, Moose will have a lot of playing time against the starting righties at third base. Geno will have a lot of playing time against the lefties we’re up against, so that’s kind of the starting point, ”Reds manager David Bell said. “With only five infielders, there are going to be days off here and there. The three infielders won’t play every day, we have DH a few times.
Bell met with Moustakas and Suárez individually on Thursday to explain the plan.
“As expected – and this No.1 is professional, respectful, but also not an acceptance to the point of being a great teammate and doing what’s best for the team and being professional and respectful, but in at the same time, not to expect that they are nothing less than everyday players, “Bell said.” This is exactly what I would expect from both of them and how I would like them to see it and manage it.
“I would never tell a player, especially Geno or Moose, how to handle something like that. I have a lot of confidence in both of them and believe that they will do everything in their power to use it in a positive way. I can kind of see the end and get the big picture and know that everything will turn out beautifully and in everyone’s best interest and in the best interest of our team. But as a competitor, they both see themselves as everyday players and rightly so. “
For at least the next four games, the Reds will face right-handed starting pitchers. They can use the designated hitter for Monday’s makeup game in Cleveland.
Because the Reds picked utility player Mike Freeman for Triple-A Louisville to make room for Moustakas, Suárez will serve as a backup shortstop when he’s not in the starting lineup.
In four rehab games with Louisville, Moustakas produced 0.357 (5v14) with a homerun.
“The results are always good,” Moustakas said. “You want it to translate here and help win baseball games here. I felt good. I was just trying to reduce my timing, see a few throws and put in some good swings. I did a good job on it.
Moustakas, 32, also showed that his foot can stand for hours in its position and react quickly to games – defensively and offensively.
“Obviously I haven’t played baseball for a few months,” Moustakas said. “So to be able to go out on the pitch and play nine innings and go through a whole game and whatever is going on, you have to feel it before you come back here. I did all that, I did a good job. I’m definitely good to go now, that’s for sure.
Wide receiver Tyler Stephenson left Thursday’s 7-4 victory over the Pirates after five innings with a left hamstring cramp. The club were relieved that the injury was not more serious and would not require a passage on the IL. Stephenson was not in Friday’s roster but was considered available off the bench.
“Especially with one receiver, if there’s a concern for more than a day or two, we’re probably going to have the IL just with just two receivers,” Bell said. “That won’t happen. I hope we get him back in the lineup in the next few days.
Just in case, the Reds have called up Triple-A Louisville wide receiver Beau Taylor to be part of the cab squad.
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