Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: Demoted to minors
Rotowire
The Reds optioned Encarnacion-Strand to Triple-A Louisville on Saturday.
Encarnacion-Strand has seen his playing time dwindle over the past several days, and Jake Fraley's (shoulder) return from the IL will now leave the former without a spot on the active roster. The 25-year-old Encarnacion-Strand has slashed .208/.234/.377 across 137 plate appearances this season.
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Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: On bench again
Rotowire
Encarnacion-Strand went unused off the bench in Wednesday's 7-2 win over the Marlins.
Since Noelvi Marte's return from the injured list last Friday, Encarnacion-Strand has started once over the last five games. For now, Marte and Spencer Steer will continue to garner most of the starts at the corner-infield spots, while Austin Hays and Gavin Lux appear set to share left field and the designated-hitter spot when the Reds face right-handed pitching. Encarnacion-Strand has batted just .179 over his last 17 games, and with his playing time on the downswing, he could soon be headed for a demotion to Triple-A Louisville.
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Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: Losing out on playing time
Rotowire
Encarnacion-Strand is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Marlins.
With Noelvi Marte returning from the injured list Friday, the Reds' position-player group is now back to full strength with the exception of outfielder Jake Fraley (shoulder), who remains on the shelf. As a result of the logjam in the infield, Encarnacion-Strand has unsurprisingly found himself as the odd man out of the lineup more frequently. Encarnacion-Strand will head to the bench for the third time in four games since Marte's activation.
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Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: Taking seat Friday
Rotowire
Encarnacion-Strand is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Phillies.
The 25-year-old started the previous four games and has been a lineup regular since returning from lower-back inflammation in early June, but Noelvi Marte's (oblique) activation from the injured list Friday leaves Cincinnati with a crowded infield. Encarnacion-Strand has a .723 OPS since coming back from his injury and could be the odd man out for the Reds, though he still seems likely to receive semi-regular starts.
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Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: Out after fouling ball off foot
Rotowire
Encarnacion-Strand is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game in Boston after fouling a ball off the top of his foot earlier in the day, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.
The Reds and Red Sox resumed Tuesday's suspended game earlier Wednesday, and Encarnacion-Strand was removed in the bottom of the eighth after getting hurt in his at-bat in the previous half inning. Manager Terry Francona didn't disclose whether Encarnacion-Strand underwent X-rays following his removal from the contest. With Encarnacion-Strand on the bench for the second game of the day, the Reds will turn to Santiago Espinal to cover third base.
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Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: Launches grand slam in win
Rotowire
Encarnacion-Strand went 2-for-5 with a grand slam and a second run scored in Wednesday's 8-4 win over the Red Sox.
After fouling a ball off his foot in the continuation of a suspended game earlier Wednesday, Encarnacion-Strand was able to rejoin the lineup in the nightcap and proved to be the difference maker. The 25-year-old first baseman blasted a 439-foot grand slam off Greg Weissert to put the Reds ahead 4-3 in the seventh inning. It's the first homer since June 8 for Encarnacion-Strand, who'd gone 8-for-51 (.157) with an ugly .362 OPS in his last 15 games. He's now slashing .206/.233/.381 with six homers, 19 RBI and 13 runs scored through 133 plate appearances this season.
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Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: Cleared to start Wednesday
Rotowire
Encarnacion-Strand (foot) will start at first base and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.
Earlier Wednesday, the Reds and Red Sox resumed their suspended game from Tuesday. Encarnacion-Strand started that game at third base and went 1-for-3 before being lifted in the bottom of the eighth inning after he had fouled a ball off his foot in the top of the frame. The Reds didn't include him in their initial lineup for Wednesday's scheduled game, but Encarnacion-Strand will end up starting after Spencer Steer was scratched due to a hand injury that he suffered earlier in the day when he was hit by a pitch. Though Encarnacion-Strand may not be 100 percent while he tends to the foot issue, the Reds evidently felt that Steer was more in need of rest and recovery for the nightcap.
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Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: Getting breather Saturday
Rotowire
Encarnacion-Strand isn't in the starting lineup Saturday versus San Diego.
Encarnacion-Strand has started each of Cincinnati's previous four contests and went 2-for-12 with three runs batted in during that stretch, with both of the hits and all of the RBI coming in the same game. He'll begin on the bench Saturday while Santiago Espinal starts at the hot corner and Spencer Steer starts at first base.
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Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: Amasses three RBI in victory
Rotowire
Encarnacion-Strand went 2-for-4 with three RBI and a double in Tuesday's 5-4 extra-innings win over the Yankees.
The three RBI matched a season high for Encarnacion-Strand and were his first in nine games. He supplied plenty of pop early in his return from the injured list but entered Tuesday with a .107 average and zero extra-base hits over the previous eight contests. Across his 49 at-bats since returning from a back injury, the slugging infielder is batting a healthy .265 with three home runs, two doubles and 10 RBI. Encarnacion-Strand remains in a timeshare with Spencer Steer at first base, however, and the former could face even more competition for playing time once Noelvi Marte (oblique) is ready to rejoin the Reds.
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Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: Playing time trending down
Rotowire
Encarnacion-Strand is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.
Encarnacion-Strand got off to a hot start at the plate upon returning from the injured list June 6, but he's gone just 3-for-25 with seven strikeouts over his last seven contests. Now on the bench for the fourth time in the Reds' last five games, Encarnacion-Strand could be in danger of a demotion to Triple-A Louisville during the upcoming week. The Reds announced Sunday that Jeimer Candelario (back) has returned from his rehab assignment, and Encarnacion-Strand would be a logical candidate to get optioned to clear a spot for the veteran.
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Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: Out of Cincinnati lineup
Rotowire
Encarnacion-Strand is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins.
Encarnacion-Strand started the first seven contests upon his activation from the 10-day injured list and slugged home runs in each of the first three of those games. However, he's gone just 2-for-21 with seven strikeouts in his last six games, and Wednesday will be the second time across the last four tilts that he's been out of the lineup. Spencer Steer and Santiago Espinal will handle corner-infield duties for the Reds.
Encarnacion-Strand isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Tigers.
In seven games since returning from the injured list, Encarnacion-Strand has gone 9-for-19 (.310) with three home runs, seven RBI and five runs scored. The Reds will give him a chance to rest Saturday while Spencer Steer starts at first base and Gavin Lux mans third.
Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: Starts at third base
Rotowire
Encarnacion-Strand started at third base and went 0-for-4 in Tuesday's 1-0 win over Cleveland.
This was the first time in five games that Encarnacion-Strand failed to reach base safely since coming off the IL; he'd gone 8-for-17 with a double, three home runs and seven RBI over the first four contests. This marked the third time in those five games that he's started at third base. Reds manager Terry Francona needs to find time for both Encarnacion-Strand and Spencer Steer, and it appears Santiago Espinal's regular run at third base has ended.
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