Hays (back) will start in left field and bat cleanup Tuesday in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series versus the Dodgers.
It's Hays' first start since Sept. 20, as he's been battling back spasms. He was able to see action as a pinch hitter in the final game of the regular season Sunday and will hit in the middle of the lineup against Blake Snell in the Dodgers as the Reds kick off postseason play.
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Reds' Austin Hays: Included on wild-card roster
Rotowire
Hays (back) is on the Reds' wild-card roster.
Hays hasn't started a game since Sept. 20 due to back spasms, but he made a pinch-hitting appearance during Sunday's regular-season finale in Milwaukee and came out of it well enough to be included on his club's wild-card roster. With lefty Blake Snell starting Game 1 for the Dodgers on Tuesday, there's a good chance the right-handed-hitting Hays will be in the lineup.
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Reds' Austin Hays: On bench for regular-season finale
Rotowire
Hays (back) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Milwaukee.
Hays took swings in the batting cage Saturday and felt good afterward, which is an encouraging sign, as he felt discomfort while hitting earlier in the week. Still, the outfielder will be idle for Cincinnati's regular-season finale. The Reds will clinch a spot in the postseason with a win or a Mets loss Sunday. It's unclear if Hays will be good to go in time for the wild-card round, however.
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Reds' Austin Hays: Responds well to work Saturday
Rotowire
Hays (back) felt good after hitting in the batting cage Saturday, MLB.com reports.
Hays had felt guarded with his injury in activities earlier in the week but came out of Saturday's session feeling "much better," according to Reds manager Terry Francona. Hays also did some running and agility drills on the field, but the team will monitor how he bounces back before making any decisions regarding his availability for Sunday's regular-season finale, a game in which the Reds can clinch a wild-card spot with a win (or a Mets loss).
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Reds' Austin Hays: Out again Saturday
Rotowire
Hays (back) is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against Milwaukee.
Hays hasn't appeared in a game since Sept. 20 due to back spasms. Reds manager Terry Francona said Friday that Hays tried hitting Thursday and still felt discomfort. Spencer Steer will fill left field Saturday.
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Reds' Austin Hays: Tries hitting
Rotowire
Reds manager Terry Francona said Friday that Hays (back) tried hitting Thursday and felt uncomfortable, MLB.com reports.
Hays has not played since exiting last Saturday's game due to back spams. Gavin Lux and Will Benson have played left field while Hays has been out.
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Reds' Austin Hays: Remains out of lineup
Rotowire
Hays (back) remains out of the lineup for Friday's game in Milwaukee.
Hays hasn't played since Sept. 20 because of back spasms. He reported improvement Thursday but was not available off the bench, and it's unclear whether he'll make it back before the end of the season. Gavin Lux is in left field and batting third for the Reds on Friday.
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Reds' Austin Hays: Feeling better
Rotowire
Hays (back) was feeling better Thursday but not available to play, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
Hays, who didn't respond well to running earlier in the week, has missed the last four games. It's unclear when, or if, Hays will be able to rejoin the club, which is still in the hunt for a playoff spot. Reds manager Terry Francona indicated Thursday that placement on the injured list is unlikely, as that would force Hays to miss postseason action, should Cincinnati qualify. "I think we're much better off trying to see if we can nurse him through this and have him be available," the manager said. Will Benson has started in left field all four games without Hays.
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Reds' Austin Hays: Held out again Wednesday
Rotowire
Hays (back) remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Pirates.
Hays will miss a third straight start as he deals with back spasms. He went through a pregame workout Tuesday to test out his back and that didn't go well, so it's unclear when he might be ready to play again. Will Benson will grab another start in left field for the Reds.
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Reds' Austin Hays: Tests his back
Rotowire
Hays tested his back spasms by running on the field Tuesday and said it was "not great," MLB.com reports.
Hays has missed the last two games after experiencing the back issue Saturday. Will Benson has filled in at left field while Hays is unavailable. Both of those starts were against right-handers.
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Reds' Austin Hays: Idle Sunday
Rotowire
Hays (back) is out of the out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.
Hays left Saturday's 6-3 win due to back spasms, and he'll require at least one day off to recover. Will Benson, TJ Friedl and Noelvi Marte will patrol the outfield from left to right.
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Reds' Austin Hays: Departs with back spasms
Rotowire
Hays was removed from Saturday's game against the Cubs due to back spasms.
Hays was lifted at the start of the sixth inning after going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. He was replaced in left field by Spencer Steer, who moved over from first base, while Sal Stewart entered the game to play first.
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Reds' Austin Hays: Idle for series finale
Rotowire
Hays is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics.
Hays will get a chance to catch his breath Sunday after he had started in each of the Reds' last 12 games, during which he slashed .292/.300/.583 with four home runs, one stolen base, 10 RBI and seven runs. Will Benson will spell Hays in left field and will bat sixth.
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Reds' Austin Hays: Notches steal in loss
Rotowire
Hays went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in Friday's 3-0 loss to the Athletics.
Hays extended his hitting streak to nine games, a span in which he has gone 11-for-36 (.306). The outfielder isn't known for his speed, with his steal Friday being his seventh of the year and first since he had a pair during a late-August series versus the Diamondbacks. Hays has been a steady bat in the middle of the order this year, posting a .266/.316/.463 slash line, 15 home runs, 64 RBI, 56 runs scored, 15 doubles and five triples over 95 contests.
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Reds' Austin Hays: Absent from lineup
Rotowire
Hays isn't in the lineup for Tuesday's game versus San Diego.
Hays will head to the bench Tuesday in the midst of a six-game hitting streak, giving Gavin Lux a chance to start in left field and bat fourth against right-hander Michael King.
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Reds' Austin Hays: Solo homer in loss
Rotowire
Hays went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's 4-3 loss to the Padres.
Hays notched a multi-hit effort Monday, punctuated by his 15th homer of the year in the sixth inning. The left fielder has been driving the ball lately, slugging .632 over his past 15 games with three doubles, five long balls and 15 RBI.
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Reds' Austin Hays: Drives in four in Tuesday's loss
Rotowire
Hays went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run, two runs scored and four RBI in Tuesday's 12-9 loss to the Blue Jays.
The veteran outfielder launched a three-run homer off Jose Berrios in the second inning as the Reds tried to climb out of an early 8-1 hole, but they were never quite able to get level. Hays is up to 13 long balls on the season, including three in his last seven games, and since Aug. 15 he's slashing an impressive .306/.328/.548 with 15 RBI in 17 contests.
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Reds' Austin Hays: Supplies go-ahead hit
Rotowire
Hays went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in Sunday's 7-4 win over the Cardinals.
Hays provided the big pop with a two-run home run in the fifth inning that broke a 3-3 tie and turned out to be the game-winning blow. It was the 12th homer in 85 games for Hays, who has bounced back nicely following a down season in 2024, when he posted a career-low .699 OPS with five homers in 85 games.
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Reds' Austin Hays: Clubs homer in loss
Rotowire
Hays went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 6-3 loss to the Dodgers.
Hays' blast in the seventh inning was the last scoring play of the game, as the Reds weren't able to build a comeback effort. The outfielder continues to hit well lately -- he's 16-for-44 (.364) with five extra-base hits and nine RBI over his last 12 games. His homer Tuesday was his first since July 18, when he went yard twice. Hays is slashing .268/.324/.454 with 11 homers, 53 RBI, 49 runs scored and six stolen bases over 81 contests this season.
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Reds' Austin Hays: Tallies three hits in win
Rotowire
Hays went 3-for-5 with one RBI, a run scored and a stolen base in Sunday's 6-1 victory over the Diamondbacks.
With this performance, the veteran outfielder notched his fifth contest with three or more hits this season. Hays entered Sunday amid a cold spell in August, batting just .200 (13-for-65) with two steals and eight RBI over 16 games this month, so perhaps this showing will turn his fortunes around. Despite not homering since July 18 -- his first game after the All-Star break -- the 30-year-old still sports a solid .265/.320/.444 slash line in 325 total plate appearances.
