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Friedl is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mariners.
Though he had a clear path to a strong-side platoon role in center field after Blake Dunn hit the shelf June 28 due to a right elbow sprain, Friedl has done little to help his case for earning playing time. Since getting called up from Triple-A Louisville the same day Dunn went on the injured list, Friedl is slashing just .150/.277/.275 over 15 contests. He'll take a seat against a right-handed starting pitcher (Emerson Hancock) for the third time in the last five games while the Reds go with Dane Myers in center field.
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Reds' TJ Friedl: On bench Saturday
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Friedl isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Rockies.
Friedl will retreat to the dugout for Saturday's contest after going 0-for-3 with a walk in Friday's win. While he sits, Dane Myers will patrol center field and bat seventh.
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Reds' TJ Friedl: Idle against lefty
Rotowire
Friedl is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.
The Reds will keep Friedl on the bench for the second time in the series against another southpaw in Matthew Boyd. Spencer Steer will step in for Friedl in center field and bat third.
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Reds' TJ Friedl: Starts against right-hander
Rotowire
Friedl started in center field and went 1-for-4 with a triple, an RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 8-5 loss to the Orioles.
Friedl legged out a triple in the second inning, driving in a run, and then scored the Reds' fourth run of the frame. Since the club lost two center fielders to injury -- Blake Dunn (elbow) and Dane Myers (shoulder) -- Friedl has started against right-handers while Matt McLain has gotten the call against lefties.
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Reds' TJ Friedl: Swats homer in win
Rotowire
Friedl started in center field and went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI in Thursday's 7-2 win over Milwaukee.
Friedl belted a solo home run in the seventh inning and knocked in another run with an eighth-inning single. These were his first hits since returning to the majors at the beginning of the week. Friedl has started three games since his recall, all coming against right-handers, and he could remain the Reds' primary option in center field while Dane Myers (shoulder) and Blake Dunn (elbow) are both sidelined.
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Reds' TJ Friedl: Enters for injured teammate
Rotowire
Friedl entered Monday's game to play center field after Dane Myers (shoulder) was removed in the fourth inning. The former went 0-for-2 in a 5-3 loss to the Brewers.
With a lefty on the mound for Milwaukee, Friedl opened the game on the bench. The Reds have lost two center fielders over the last several days with with Myers joining Blake Dunn (elbow, IL) as unavailable. Friedl was called up Sunday in the wake of Dunn's injury -- he went 0-for-4 in that day's game -- and will operate as the primary center fielder for now while the club gets a better read on Myers' status.
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Reds' TJ Friedl: Hitting bench with lefty starting
Rotowire
Friedl is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Brewers.
After being called up from Triple-A Louisville on Sunday in the wake of Blake Dunn's (elbow) placement on the injured list, Friedl started in center field in the Reds' 9-4 loss to the Pirates, going 0-for-4 in his first appearance for the big club since June 2. Though he'll take a seat Monday while southpaw Robert Gasser toes the rubber for the Brewers, Friedl could occupy the large side of a platoon in center with Dane Myers until Dunn is back from the IL.
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Reds' TJ Friedl: Back in majors
Rotowire
The Reds recalled Friedl from Triple-A Louisville on Sunday.
The 30-year-old was optioned to Triple-A in early June after posting a .179/.259/.256 slash line through 178 plate appearances, but he'll get another chance with the Reds after Blake Dunn (elbow) landed on the injured list. Friedl filled the strong side of a platoon in center field at the start of the season, though it's unclear if he'll slide back into that role after posting an .841 OPS in 18 games for Louisville. The Reds will include him in the starting lineup and batting eighth versus right-hander Mitch Keller during Sunday's series finale in Pittsburgh.
The Reds optioned Friedl to Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday.
Friedl posted a .742 OPS over 152 games in 2025 while serving as the Reds' primary leadoff man, but he's seen his productivity at the dish crater this season. The 30-year-old has slashed a lowly .179/.259/.256 over 178 plate appearances thus far in 2026, with his struggles resulting in the Reds scaling back his playing time in mid-May and dropping him down to the bottom of the lineup during his starts. After holding Friedl out of the starting nine for the last three games, the Reds have now decided to send him back to Louisville with the hope that he returns to form while getting the chance to play on an everyday basis. Cincinnati recalled Noelvi Marte from Triple-A in a corresponding move.
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Reds' TJ Friedl: Idle for second straight game
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Friedl is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Royals.
Friedl resurfaced in the Cincinnati lineup for three straight starts late last week, but despite reaching base in three of his eight plate appearances during that stretch, manager Terry Francona will send the outfielder to the bench for a second straight matchup versus a right-hander. With Friedl taking a seat, the Reds will be able to reopen a spot in the middle infield for Matt McLain, while Spencer Steer shifts to the outfield after manning the keystone in Sunday's win over Atlanta.
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Reds' TJ Friedl: Sitting after three straight starts
Rotowire
Friedl is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Atlanta.
He'll retreat to the bench after going 2-for-7 with a walk and a run scored over the past three games. Though he probably hasn't reclaimed a full-time role just yet, Friedl's playing time appears more secure than that of Matt McLain, who is on the bench for the third time in four games while the Reds shift Spencer Steer to second base and hand Will Benson a start in the outfield.
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Reds' TJ Friedl: Dropped to ninth
Rotowire
Friedl batted ninth in the order and went 1-for-2 with a walk in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Mets.
This was Friedl's first time starting a game at the bottom of the order. The one-time leadoff hitter's season-opening slump has cost him both a spot atop the Reds' order and playing time - Friedl's started just three times in the last 13 games.
Friedl is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Mets.
Friedl will head to the bench for the fifth time in six games and looks to have faded into a reserve role while he's struggled to a .176/.255/.257 slash line and a career-worst 23.7 percent strikeout rate over 169 plate appearances. The Reds appear prepared to move forward with a tandem of Blake Dunn and Dane Myers in center field for the time being.
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Reds' TJ Friedl: Taking seat during Game 1
Rotowire
Friedl isn't in the lineup for the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Cardinals.
The first half of Saturday's twin bill will mark Friedl's third straight absence from the starting lineup. The 30-year-old has gone just 1-for-17 with eight strikeouts over his last six games, so he may have fallen down the depth chart as a result of his struggles. JJ Bleday, Dane Myers and Blake Dunn will start across the outfield while Friedl sits.
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Reds' TJ Friedl: Idle against right-hander
Rotowire
Friedl is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies.
Friedl will hit the bench for the second day in a row, this time sitting against a righty (Aaron Nola) after being held out of the lineup against lefty Jesus Luzardo on Tuesday. Blake Dunn will pick up a start in center field in place of Friedl, who has gone 2-for-28 with a 2:11 BB:K over his last nine games to bring his season-long batting line down to .178/.258/.260.
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Reds' TJ Friedl: Returns to lineup
Rotowire
Friedl started in center field and batted eighth in Sunday's 10-3 loss to the Guardians. He went 0-for-2 and was pinch hit for in the seventh inning.
Friedl's playing time has taken a dramatic hit, as Sunday's start was his first in four games. When a leadoff batter is hitting .184 two months into the season, that forces a manager to seek other solutions in the field and at leadoff. Will Benson batted leadoff Sunday, and he's been sharing that role with Dane Myers the last five contests. For now, Friedl appears to be in a platoon, getting starts against righties, but either Benson or JJ Bleday could serve in that role if Friedl doesn't improve. He's gone 2-for-25 over his last eight games.
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Reds' TJ Friedl: Playing time trending down
Rotowire
Friedl is not in the lineup for Friday's game in Cleveland.
Friedl could be losing his grip on an everyday role. This is his second straight absence and the fourth across the Reds' last eight contests. Additionally, in his last start Friedl batted eighth after previously not hitting anywhere other than leadoff this season. Will Benson is covering center field and batting leadoff for the Reds on Friday. Friedl is slashing just .184/.268/.270 for Cincinnati this season.
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