Cincinnati Reds: News, Scores, Stats, Headlines, Injury Updates & More

Reds’ Hays an ‘intriguing’ bat in deeper leagues

Austin Hays homered in his debut with the Cincinnati Reds and Eric Samulski explains why the veteran outfielder is an “intriguing” bat at Great American Ball Park.

Next GameNext Game	04/16/2025 6:40 PM EST
Next OpponentNext Opponent	SEA Seattle Mariners
Standing (Division)Division Rank	2nd NL Central
WinsWins	8
LossesLosses	8
RunsRuns Scored	70
Runs AllowedRuns Allowed	55
Batting AverageBatting Average	.204
Home RunsHome Runs	15
ManagerManager	Terry Francona

Reds activate Diaz, McLain and Hays off injured list ahead of series opener against Mariners

Associated Press,

Associated Press,

Reds place Sam Moll on the 15-day injured list due to left shoulder impingement

Associated Press,

Associated Press,

MLB: Colorado Rockies at San Diego Padres

MLB Power Rankings: Red-hot Padres leapfrog Dodgers for top spot

D.J. Short
,

D.J. Short
,

01:24

Greene emerging as ‘dark horse Cy Young candidate’

MLB: Cincinnati Reds at San Francisco Giants

Reds at Giants prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for April 8

NBC Sports Bet Staff,

NBC Sports Bet Staff,

01:16

Greene has ‘all the tools’ to compete for Cy Young

Rotoworld Player News

Jeimer Candelario

CIN 3rd Baseman #3

2hJeimer Candelario is not in the starting lineup for Wednesday’s game against the Mariners.

The Reds have a bit of a log jam now that Matt McLain and Austin Hays are back, so some usual starters for the Reds are going to get days off. In this case it’s Candelario, with Gavin Lux at third and Christian Encarnacion-Strand handling first.

Austin Hays

CIN Outfield #12

18hAustin Hays delivered a three-run homer and an RBI single in his season debut Tuesday as the Reds beat the Mariners 8-4.

Hays’ homer to straight-away center would have left one ballpark. Fortunately, that’s the one the Reds play in, and this was a home game. GABP is a big part of what makes Hays a somewhat intriguing option in mixed leagues. The 20-homer power he showed in Baltimore from 2021-23 is at least 25-homer power while playing in Cincinnati half of the time. That said, we wouldn’t say Hays needs to be picked up immediately. After these next two home games with Seattle, the Reds will head off to Baltimore and Miami for six games. Things should get better for all Reds hitters on Apri. 25, when they begin a three-game series in Coors and follow it with a seven-game homestand.

Nick Lodolo

CIN Starting Pitcher #40

18hNick Lodolo gave up four runs in 4 2/3 innings Tuesday in a no-decision against the Marineers.

This was all Dylan Moore’s fault, as he homered twice and singled off the Reds left-hander. Lodolo struck out six and allowed just two singles and one walk to the rest of the Mariners lineup. He’s still off to an excellent start with his 2.31 ERA, and he might be able to go the entire rest of the year without facing Moore. He’ll get the Orioles next.

Alexis Diaz

CIN Relief Pitcher #43

18hMaking his season debut after returning from the IL earlier in the day, Alexis Díaz was pulled mid-inning after walking two of the four batters he faced in the sixth Tuesday against the Mariners.

Díaz retired the other two, but the Reds replaced him with Graham Ashcraft to finish the frame. It does go down as a hold for Díaz, who was working with a 6-4 lead. Emilio Pagán finished the game with a perfect ninth, but since it was a four-run lead by then, he didn’t get a save. Pagán is the Reds reliever to have rostered right now.

Gavin Lux

CIN 2nd Baseman #2

18hGavin Lux singled four times and knocked in two runs in four at-bats against the Mariners on Tuesday.

Good timing for Lux’s best game of the season, what with both Matt McLain and Austin Hays coming off the IL today. Lux will stay in the lineup against righties for now, but he needs to start showing some power; while he raised his average from .216 to .273 tonight, he remained without a homer through 63 plate appearances.

Austin Hays

CIN Outfield #12

1dAustin Hays (calf) is DHing and batting fifth in his 2025 debut after coming off the injured list on Tuesday.

Gavin Lux remains in left field tonight. Hays played the outfield in two of his three games at Triple-A Louisville and DH’d in the other. Spencer Steer, who is still struggling offensively while being limited to DH duties by his troublesome shoulder, is taking a seat tonight.

Alexis Diaz

CIN Relief Pitcher #43

1dAlexis Díaz, who was activated from the IL on Tuesday, will not immediately return to the closer’s role in Cincinnati, manager Terry Francona confirmed.

Díaz said no one has discussed his specific role with him. It looks like Emilio Pagán remains the favorite for saves for now.

Matt McLain

CIN 2nd Baseman #9

1dReds activated 2B Matt McLain from the 10-day injured list.

This will hopefully mean seeing a lot less of Santiago Espinal going forward. The Reds backdated McLain’s IL stint and had two days off recently, so McLain actually spent just five games on the injured list. We assume he’ll be back in the lineup as the No. 2 hitter tonight.

Austin Hays

CIN Outfield #12

1dReds activated OF Austin Hays from the 10-day injured list.

Hays appeared set to serve as the Reds’ primary cleanup man before suffering a calf strain at the very end of the spring. We’re skeptical he’ll justify that lofty position, but he wouldn’t need to be all that good in order to amass some mixed-league value in such a great situation. With Gavin Lux now due to get more infield and DH starts, Hays’ return could result in less playing time for Christian Encarnacion-Strand, who has already been on the bench two games in a row. Jeimer Candelario is probably more deserving of the bench gig, but we doubt that’s going to happen anytime soon.

Alexis Diaz

CIN Relief Pitcher #43

1dReds activated RHP Alexis Díaz from the 15-day injured list.

Díaz goes into the spot opened up when Sam Moll was placed on the injured list Monday. It’s possible he’ll resume closing for the Reds at some point, but he doesn’t seem like a great bet with the way his strikeout rate has dropped. He’s often gotten away with being a flyball pitcher in a bad ballpark for it and with walking too many batters, but it was easier when he was striking out 30 percent of the batters he faced, rather than 23 percent like he did in 2024. At least until Díaz gets a few scoreless innings under his belt, Emilio Pagán still seems like the Reds reliever worth rostering for now.