Spencer

Steer

Stewart will get an opportunity in the heart of Cincinnati’s lineup to face Dodgers co-ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto after coming off the bench during the late stages of Tuesday’s series opener. The 21-year-old top prospect adds some serious thunder to the middle of the order in a win-or-go-home spot for the Reds after homering five times in 18 regular-season contests after being called up in early September. Here’s the full lineup: TJ Friedl (CF), Spencer Steer (LF), Gavin Lux (DH), Austin Hays (RF), Stewart (1B), Elly De La Cruz (SS), Tyler Stephenson (C), Ke’Bryan Hayes (3B) and Matt McLain (2B).

Hays missed seven consecutive games to close out the regular season due to back spasms. The 30-year-old corner outfielder is back in left field and batting cleanup against lefty Blake Snell on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. Here’s the full lineup: TJ Friedl (CF), Noelvi Marte (RF), Miguel Andujar (DH), Hays (LF), Spencer Steer (1B), Elly De La Cruz (SS), Tyler Stephenson (C), Ke’Bryan Hayes (3B) and Matt McLain (2B).

Spencer Steer heads out to left field with top prospect Sal Stewart covering first base with Hays still out of the lineup due to a lingering back issue. The 30-year-old corner outfielder hasn’t played since last weekend. It’s a pivotal matchup for the Reds as they control their own destiny for the final NL Wild Card playoff spot heading into the final weekend of the regular season.

Stewart takes a seat for the second consecutive contest after going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts during Thursday’s series opener against the Cubs. It’ll be Spencer Steer at the cold corner with defensive standout Ke’Bryan Hayes at third base. The 21-year-old top prospect has homered four times in 14 games since arriving in the big leagues earlier this month.

After starting just one of seven games from Sept. 9-16, Steer, who has been dealing with leg and neck issues, has been at first base each of the last three and gone 5-for-10 with three homers and eight RBI. He became the first Reds player to reach 20 homers this year, beating Elly De La Cruz by about three minutes when the two homered consecutively in the sixth inning.

Steer had a pair of run-scoring hits, with the biggest being his three-run blast off Andre Pallante. He added two more RBI to push his total to 69 on the season with a single to score a pair in the seventh. Steer has been up-and-down in 2025 due to injury and performance when healthy, but he’s now the owner of 18 homers and a .716 OPS in 476 at-bats.

Steer has been out since last Friday and recently went to a chiropractor to get an adjustment for his troublesome neck. Apparently, medical school works wonders because Steer is back in the lineup on Wednesday. Sal Stewart will shift from first base to third base, and Ke’Bryan Hayes will have the day off.

Reds manager Terry Francona said Steer is feeling great after getting an adjustment by a chiropractor earlier on Tuesday. The 27-year-old will sit out at least one additional contest with rookie sensation Sal Stewart, who has homered four times in 11 games since arriving in the big leagues earlier this month, continues to handle the cold corner.

Sal Stewart takes over at first base with Ke’Bryan Hayes entering the lineup to handle the hot corner. Steer is presumably day-to-day for now. There should be an update on his status following the contest.

Stewart gets the nod over Spencer Steer at the cold corner for the second straight contest. The 21-year-old top prospect clobbered a 419-foot moonshot for his second career round-tripper during Tuesday’s narrow victory at Petco Park. He continues to flash big-time over-the-fence power potential and looks like he’s going to make a serious fantasy impact next season as one of Cincinnati’s core building blocks.