Spencer

Steer

Francona didn’t rule it out entirely, but noted that his odds of returning are “lessening” as he’s not expected to resume swinging until early October. At this point, there’s zero reason for fantasy managers in redraft leagues to continue holding onto Steer. He’s been on the injured list with a right wrist sprain since late July.

Steer is yet another potential trade candidate going down with an injury at the worst time. While there is no timeline yet for his potential return, ESPN’s Buster Olney reported that he will miss “significant time.” There are only two months left in the season, and the Reds are all but eliminated, which means there is a chance that we don’t see Steer in an MLB game for the remainder of the season. We’d still put him in an IL spot on our fantasy teams until we hear an exact timeline.

Steer fouled off a pitch and came away shaking his right hand, which prompted the visit from the training staff and Reds’ manager Terry Franconca and after a brief discussion Steer was lifted from the game mid at-bat. He’ll presumably head for imaging to see what’s going on there. Fantasy managers who are relying on Steer for next week should have a contingency plan in place in the event that he’s forced to miss some time.

Steer wound up requiring a brief one-game absence after being hit by a pitch in the ribs during Monday’s series opener. He’s back in right field and hitting cleanup.

Steer receives a breather after being hit by a pitch in the ribs during Monday’s contest. It doesn’t sound like a significant concern. It’ll be Noelvi Marte taking over in right field. Fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day heading into Wednesday’s series finale in Seattle.

Steer broke the game open as he tagged Jimmy Herget for a 404-foot (103.5-mph EV) two-run blast in the sixth inning that gave the Reds a 3-1 advantage. He then ambushed a first-pitch fastball from Jeff Criswell for a 421-foot (102.4-mph EV) solo shot in the eighth. For the season, the 28-year-old is now slashing .250/.330/.441 to go along with 16 homers and 40 RBI through his first 362 plate appearances.

Steer has not appeared in a game in center field in his major-league career. So this could be fun. The 28-year-old is hitting .240/.323/.421 this year while mostly batting in the top half of the Reds order over the past month or so. This is a stab at getting T.J. Friedl out of the lineup.

After trailing 6-1 in the seventh inning, Steer’s two-run shot in the eighth brought the Reds within one run before they fell just short. Nevertheless, Steer had been ice cold over his last 30 games with a .186/.288/.382 slash line over his last 30 games entering play Wednesday. Funny enough, three of his last four hits – spanning 11 games – were home runs.

Benson is hitting just .188/.310/.333 in 114 plate appearances this season with a 33.3 percent strikeout rate. Now 28 years old and with a 33.3 percent career MLB strikeout rate in 405 games, you have to wonder if Benson’s time in Cincinnati may be drawing to a close. Noelvi Marte could also be pushed off of right field if the Reds want to play Spencer Steer out there with Elly De La Cruz back.

Spencer Steer takes over at the keystone to face Yankees rookie starter Elmer Rodríguez with top prospect Edwin Arroyo at shortstop for his eighth consecutive start since June 12. The big question for fantasy managers is whether Arroyo, who is hitting just .255 (12-for-47) through 17 games since being called up, will remain in the big leagues once Elly De La Cruz (hamstring) is ready to return from the injured list in a couple days.