Benson isn't part of the starting lineup for Saturday's game against Milwaukee.
Benson will be on the bench for a second straight game, as southpaw Robert Gasser takes the mound for the Brewers on Saturday. Benson hasn't logged multiple hits in a game since Aug. 1, but he's hitting .234 during that stretch. Spencer Steer, TJ Friedl and Noelvi Marte will fill the outfield from left to right.
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Reds' Will Benson: Out of Cincinnati lineup
Rotowire
Benson is absent from the lineup for Friday's contest in Milwaukee.
The left-handed-hitting Benson had drawn 11 straight starts against right-handed pitching, but he'll take a seat Friday versus righty Quinn Priester. Gavin Lux and Noelvi Marte will occupy the corner outfield spots for the Reds, while Miguel Andujar will serve as the designated hitter.
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Reds' Will Benson: Filling in at left field
Rotowire
Benson started in left field and went 0-for-3 in Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the Pirates.
Benson made a second consecutive start in left field with Austin Hays (back) unavailable. Hays ran the field Tuesday and reported the back did not respond well to the activity, per MLB.com, which suggests more opportunities for Benson if opponents start a right-hander. That will be the case Wednesday, when Pittsburgh is scheduled to throw Paul Skenes (2.03 ERA).
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Reds' Will Benson: Fills in at center field
Rotowire
Benson started in center field and went 0-for-5 in Wednesday's 6-2 win over St. Louis.
Benson got the start in center field, which is normally the purview of TJ Friedl, who was given the day off. Benson is experiencing an uptick in playing time and has started five of the last six games, playing every spot of the outfield. He's gone 4-for-16 with two home runs, one triple and five RBI during that stretch.
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Reds' Will Benson: Sitting after three straight starts
Rotowire
Benson is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cardinals.
After making starts at three different outfield spots and going 3-for-8 with two home runs, one triple, one walk and four RBI during the Reds' weekend series in Sacramento, the left-handed-hitting Benson will hit the bench while St. Louis sends southpaw Matthew Liberatore to the hill. Despite his big weekend, Benson is still likely to be more of a part-time presence in the lineup versus right-handed pitching while all of Austin Hays, Gavin Lux, TJ Friedl and Noelvi Marte are available.
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Reds' Will Benson: Goes deep again
Rotowire
Benson started in left field and went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 7-4 loss to the Athletics.
Benson upped Cincinnati's lead to 3-0 with his second-inning home run. He's started four of the last five contests and gone deep three times during that stretch. The bump in playing time came out of nowhere for Benson, who rode the bench for the first 20 games after being called up in mid-August.
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Reds' Will Benson: Knocks 11th homer
Rotowire
Benson went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run and a walk in Saturday's 11-5 loss to the Athletics.
Benson has featured primarily in a bench role since his Aug. 17 recall, though this was his second straight start as he covered for TJ Friedl, who was the designated hitter, in center field. Benson has posted a .229/.279/.448 slash line with 11 homers, seven doubles, two triples, two stolen bases, 36 RBI and 30 runs scored over 222 plate appearances this season. It's unclear if the outfielder will be able to carve out a larger role to close out the year, though he could get the chance to if Noelvi Marte continues slumping.
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Reds' Will Benson: Sent back to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Reds optioned Benson to Triple-A Louisville on Sunday.
After Saturday's MLB Speedway Classic was suspended in the first inning due to rain, the Reds will be in need of an extra arm for the continuation of the contest Sunday. Having two minor-league options appears to have worked against Benson, who will head to the minors as Cincinnati brings right-hander Lyon Richardson aboard as its 27th man for the Speedway Classic. Benson should be back with the big club later this month.
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Reds' Will Benson: Productive in Friday's win
Rotowire
Benson went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run, a second run scored and a stolen base in Friday's 3-2 win over Atlanta.
He took reliever Dylan Dodd the other way in the seventh inning for his ninth long ball of the season, and his second off a left-handed pitcher. Benson remains a strong-side platoon player for the most part, but he's been struggling of late even in that role -- over 20 games since the beginning of July he's batting just .206 (13-for-63) with a 0:18 BB:K.
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Reds' Will Benson: On bench against southpaw
Rotowire
Benson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies.
After starting in each of the Reds' last eight games, Benson will take a seat against southpaw Austin Gomber. Though Benson has been holding down a strong-side platoon role since the middle of May, he could be in danger of losing playing time versus righties after the Reds activated Jake Fraley from the injured list Saturday. Benson got the nod in right field Saturday over Fraley against Rockies righty Bradley Blalock, going 1-for-4 with a triple, an RBI and a run.
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Reds' Will Benson: Records triple Saturday
Rotowire
Benson started in right field and went 1-for-4 with a triple, an RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Rockies.
Benson's triple drove in a run, and he then scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth of Cincinnati's walk-off win. He remained in the starting nine against a right-hander (Bradley Blalock), despite the return of Jake Fraley (shoulder), who was activated off the injured list Saturday. Fraley has traditionally started against righties when healthy, and he could eventually overtake Benson as the Reds' preferred option at the position.
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Reds' Will Benson: Homers again
Rotowire
Benson went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored during Wednesday's 7-2 win over the Marlins.
Benson went 23 games without a home run before launching a solo shot Saturday against the Phillies. He clubbed another round tripper Wednesday, his eighth of the season, to snap a 0-for-12 skid at the plate. In 160 plate appearances this season, Benson is slashing .224/.281/.434.
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Reds' Will Benson: Ends homer drought
Rotowire
Benson went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Saturday's 5-1 loss to the Phillies.
He was given a rare start against a lefty, covering center field for a resting TJ Friedl. Benson gave the Reds a lead with a fifth-inning home run, his seventh of the season and first in 23 games. It's his only hit in 13 at-bats against a southpaw. Benson has largely struggled to produce since an explosive stretch in mid-May, but the bat is showing recent signs of life. He's hit safely in six of his last seven games (five starts), going 8-for-21 (.381) with one double, one homer and three RBI.
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Reds' Will Benson: Getting day off vs. lefty
Rotowire
Benson is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Yankees.
Benson and fellow left-handed hitters Gavin Lux and Jake Fraley will all hit the bench for the series finale while the Yankees send a southpaw (Max Fried) to the bump for the second straight day. Though Benson has been a fixture in the Cincinnati outfield against right-handed pitching for the past five weeks, his playing time could soon dry up with Austin Hays (foot) nearing a return from the injured list.
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Reds' Will Benson: Not in Monday's lineup
Rotowire
Benson is absent from the lineup for Monday's game versus the Yankees.
The left-handed-hitting Benson had been in the lineup every time the Reds faced a righty since May 10, but he'll take a seat Monday as the Yankees send right-hander Allan Winans to the bump. Gavin Lux will play left field Monday.
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Reds' Will Benson: Idle versus lefty
Rotowire
Benson is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Guardians.
With lefty Logan Allen on the bump for Cleveland, Benson will take a seat for the series finale along with fellow left-handed hitters Gavin Lux and Jake Fraley. Benson had started each of the Reds' last four games, going 3-for-13 with a double, three walks, four runs and one RBI.
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Reds' Will Benson: Scores lone run in win
Rotowire
Benson started in left field and went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Tuesday's 1-0 win over the Guardians.
Benson doubled in the fifth inning and came home one batter later for the lone offense in this pitchers' duel. He's found a home in left field, but that could end soon. Austin Hays (foot) ran the bases Tuesday as part of a test and could be activated in the coming days if he feels OK afterwards. Since homering five times in nine games upon his latest call-up to the big leagues, Benson's batted .173 (9-for-52) with one home run, five RBI and a .500 OPS over the last 18 contests.
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Reds' Will Benson: Moves to left field
Rotowire
Benson started in left field and went 2-for-4 with two runs scored in Friday's 6-2 win over the Cubs.
Benson, who had been playing right field for an injured Jake Fraley, maintained a lineup presence with Fraley's return Friday. A convenient opening in left field occurred when the Reds placed Austin Hays (foot) on the 10-day injured list. Benson has cooled off since he homered five times in four games in the middle of the month, going 3-for-21 with two walks, three RBI and two runs over his last seven games.
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Reds' Will Benson: Back in lineup
Rotowire
Benson started in right field and went 0-for-3 with an RBI in Saturday's 6-4 win over the Cubs.
Benson was back in the lineup against a right-handed starter, after he was held out against southpaws the prior three games. Benson made an impact immediately after his call-up from Triple-A Louisville with five home runs, three doubles, 11 RBI, one steal and seven runs scored over his first 10 games. Since then, he's gone 0-for-5 over seven plate appearances. Jake Fraley (calf) has started a rehab assignment, so Benson's run as the primary right fielder against right-handed pitching may end soon.
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Reds' Will Benson: On bench versus lefty
Rotowire
Benson is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Pirates.
The 26-year-old has gone 12-for-34 with five homers in 10 games since being called up by Cincinnati on May 9, but he'll sit Tuesday against Pittsburgh lefty Bailey Falter. Benson should continue to see plenty of at-bats while filling the strong side of a platoon in right field with Jake Fraley (calf) sidelined.
