Reds' TJ Friedl: Sitting after three straight starts
Rotowire
Friedl is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Atlanta.
Friedl will retreat to the bench after he went 2-for-7 with a walk and a run scored while starting in the past three games. Though he probably hasn't reclaimed a full-time role just yet, Friedl's playing time appears more secure than that of Matt McLain, who is on the bench for the third time in four games while the Reds shift Spencer Steer back to second base and hand Will Benson a start in the outfield.
... See More... See Less
Reds' TJ Friedl: Dropped to ninth
Rotowire
Friedl batted ninth in the order and went 1-for-2 with a walk in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Mets.
This was Friedl's first time starting a game at the bottom of the order. The one-time leadoff hitter's season-opening slump has cost him both a spot atop the Reds' order and playing time - Friedl's started just three times in the last 13 games.
... See More... See Less
Reds' TJ Friedl: Losing out on playing time
Rotowire
Friedl is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Mets.
Friedl will head to the bench for the fifth time in six games and looks to have faded into a reserve role while he's struggled to a .176/.255/.257 slash line and a career-worst 23.7 percent strikeout rate over 169 plate appearances. The Reds appear prepared to move forward with a tandem of Blake Dunn and Dane Myers in center field for the time being.
... See More... See Less
Reds' TJ Friedl: Taking seat during Game 1
Rotowire
Friedl isn't in the lineup for the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Cardinals.
The first half of Saturday's twin bill will mark Friedl's third straight absence from the starting lineup. The 30-year-old has gone just 1-for-17 with eight strikeouts over his last six games, so he may have fallen down the depth chart as a result of his struggles. JJ Bleday, Dane Myers and Blake Dunn will start across the outfield while Friedl sits.
... See More... See Less
Reds' TJ Friedl: Idle against right-hander
Rotowire
Friedl is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies.
Friedl will hit the bench for the second day in a row, this time sitting against a righty (Aaron Nola) after being held out of the lineup against lefty Jesus Luzardo on Tuesday. Blake Dunn will pick up a start in center field in place of Friedl, who has gone 2-for-28 with a 2:11 BB:K over his last nine games to bring his season-long batting line down to .178/.258/.260.
... See More... See Less
Reds' TJ Friedl: Returns to lineup
Rotowire
Friedl started in center field and batted eighth in Sunday's 10-3 loss to the Guardians. He went 0-for-2 and was pinch hit for in the seventh inning.
Friedl's playing time has taken a dramatic hit, as Sunday's start was his first in four games. When a leadoff batter is hitting .184 two months into the season, that forces a manager to seek other solutions in the field and at leadoff. Will Benson batted leadoff Sunday, and he's been sharing that role with Dane Myers the last five contests. For now, Friedl appears to be in a platoon, getting starts against righties, but either Benson or JJ Bleday could serve in that role if Friedl doesn't improve. He's gone 2-for-25 over his last eight games.
... See More... See Less
Reds' TJ Friedl: Not in Sunday's lineup
Rotowire
Friedl is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros.
Friedl has gone 1-for-17 across the past five games and will hit the bench Sunday with opposing pitcher Kai-Wei Teng starting what is expected to be a bullpen game for Houston. Blake Dunn will take over in center field while Will Benson steps into the leadoff spot for Cincinnati.
... See More... See Less
Reds' TJ Friedl: Continues hot stretch
Rotowire
Friedl went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Friday's 9-1 loss to the Pirates.
Friedl had two of the Reds' three hits and was the only bright light in the loss. The two-hit night continued a strong stretch for the outfielder, who has gone 12-for-38 (.316) with two home runs, five doubles, one steal, six RBI and five runs over the last 10 contests. Friedl has slowly climbed out of a deep hole -- his batting average stood at .137 after 20 games -- and is at a season-high .198.
... See More... See Less
Reds' TJ Friedl: Tallies three hits, including homer
Rotowire
Friedl went 3-for-4 with a double, solo home run and an additional run against the Tigers in a 9-2 win Saturday.
Friedl capped a big offensive game by the Reds with a solo blast in the eighth inning. His three total hits tied a season-high mark, and this was the first time all season Friedl has logged multiple extra-base hits in a game. In fact, the veteran outfielder went 20 contests at the outset of the campaign without any extra-base knocks on his ledger. He seems to be turning things around since, going 7-for-19 with three doubles, Saturday's homer, four RBI and a stolen base across his past five games.
... See More... See Less
Reds' TJ Friedl: Sparks offense in comeback win
Rotowire
Friedl went 2-for-5 with a double, three RBI and a stolen base in Sunday's 7-4 extra-inning win over the Twins.
Friedl flipped the game in the top of the ninth inning, giving the Reds a 4-3 lead on a bases-clearing double. It was the first extra-base hit of the season for the 30-year-old, who entered the contest in an 0-for-10 slump across his previous three games. He's struggled overall so far, slashing .154/.267/.167 with four RBI and seven runs scored across 92 plate appearances, but has contributed four steals.
... See More... See Less
Reds' TJ Friedl: Taking seat versus lefty
Rotowire
Friedl is not in the lineup for Tuesday's contest against the Giants.
Friedl was in the lineup each of the first two times the Reds faced a lefty this season, but in the two games versus lefties since then, he's been out of the starting nine. The righty-swinging Dane Myers will patrol center field and bat leadoff in Friedl's stead.
... See More... See Less
Reds' TJ Friedl: Rare day off Wednesday
Rotowire
Friedl is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game in St. Louis.
Friedl will receive a rare day off in the matinee contest after he had started in every game for the Reds since Aug. 27. Will Benson will patrol center field and bat third in Wednesday's rubber match.
... See More... See Less
Reds' TJ Friedl: Mired in slump
Rotowire
Friedl went 0-for-4 with two walks in Friday's 7-5 loss to the Cardinals.
Friedl's having a rough month of August, posting a .594 OPS with just two extra-base hits and five RBI over 23 games. Friedl is slashing .230/.353/.278 across 33 contests since the All-Star break.
... See More... See Less
Reds' TJ Friedl: Goes on paternity list
Rotowire
The Reds placed Friedl on the paternity list Tuesday, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.
By rule, Friedl will be away for the next 1-to-3 days while welcoming a new addition to the family. The Reds will roll out Will Benson in center field Tuesday against the Dodgers and have elevated Gavin Lux to the leadoff spot.
... See More... See Less
Reds' TJ Friedl: Finds power stroke during win
Rotowire
Friedl went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, two additional runs scored and a walk in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Rockies.
Friedl filled up the box score in a much-needed strong showing, opening the scoring with a leadoff home run, his first long ball since June 13. The 29-year-old had been quiet at the plate this month, entering Sunday just 7-for-38 (.184) with one RBI in the month of July. Despite the slump, Friedl remains locked into the top of Cincinnati's lineup and could carry momentum into the second half of the season after Sunday's encouraging performance.
... See More... See Less
Reds' TJ Friedl: Day off Saturday
Rotowire
Friedl isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Phillies.
Friedl doesn't typically step out of the starting nine against left-handed starters, but he'll do so Saturday with Ranger Suarez slated to take the mound for Philadelphia. Santiago Espinal, Will Benson and Rece Hinds will start across Cincinnati's outfield while Friedl rests.
... See More... See Less
Reds' TJ Friedl: Rescues team in comeback win
Rotowire
Friedl went 1-for-5 with a double and two RBI in Tuesday's 6-5 win over the Twins.
The Reds let a 4-1 lead slip away in the sixth inning, but Friedl came to the rescue an inning later. His two-run double re-established Cincinnati's lead and was the game-winning knock. Friedl has driven in eight runs over the last 10 games.
... See More... See Less
Reds' TJ Friedl: Scores three runs in wins
Rotowire
Friedl went 1-for-5 with two walks, a home run, three RBI and two additional runs scored in wins over the Diamondbacks on Friday and Saturday. Friday's suspended game was completed Saturday.
Friedl homered during the Friday portion of the suspended game and then reached base three times in Saturday's regularly scheduled affair, including getting hit by a pitch. The Reds' leadoff hitter is rolling of late, going 25-for-66 (.379) with nine walks, four doubles, a triple, two home runs, one steal, six RBI and 14 runs scored over the last 17 contests. He's second on the team behind Elly De La Cruz with 38 runs in 62 games.
... See More... See Less
Reds' TJ Friedl: Reaches base three times
Rotowire
Friedl went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double and a run scored in Monday's 3-2 loss to the Brewers.
Friedl got the Reds going early, leading off the bottom of the first inning with a double and scoring on a single. He's been rolling the last two weeks with multiple hits in 10 of the last 13 games. Friedl is batting .426 with six walks, five extra-base hits, three RBI, one steal and 11 runs during that stretch.
... See More... See Less
Reds' TJ Friedl: Legs out triple in loss
Rotowire
Friedl went 2-for-4 with a triple in Tuesday's 1-0 loss to the Pirates.
Friedl gave the Reds their best chance at scoring when he took advantage of a carom off the right-field wall and turned a sure double into a triple. Unfortunately for Cincinnati, he was stranded there, as Pittsburgh lefty Bailey Falter induced a groundout, strikeout and pop out to escape. Since returning from a two-game absence due to a wrist injury, Friedl is 6-for-18 with three extra-base hits, three walks, an RBI and three runs scored.
