The Reds announced on Sunday morning that first baseman Joey Votto has been placed on the injured list due to undisclosed reasons. Pitcher Anthony DeSclafani has been activated. As John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer notes, Votto is on the “injured list,” not the “10-day injured list.” Teammate Mike Moustakas was recently on the “injured list.”
[Update: Votto self-reported symptoms but has not tested positive for COVID-19, Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.]
Votto, 36, was off to a good start. In the first seven games of the regular season, he has hit .259/.375/.481 with a pair of home runs and five runs batted in across 32 plate appearances. The Reds have a handful of candidates who could see time at first base but Josh VanMeter and Matt Davidson seem to be most likely to end up replacing Votto for the time being.
DeSclafani, 30, suffered a mild right teres major muscle strain just before the start of the regular season. He will start the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader against the Tigers. Last season, DeSclafani posted a 3.89 ERA with 167 strikeouts and 49 walks over 166 2/3 innings.
The Reds, a popular preseason pick to compete in the NL Central, are 2-5 to begin the season. Votto’s absence certainly won’t help them with that quest.
