Espinal started at second base and went 1-for-3 in Wednesday's 5-2 loss to Cleveland.
Espinal filled in at second base for Jonathan India, who was held out of the starting lineup after clearing concussion protocol. Espinal's in a skid to end the season, going 4-for-37 (.108) over the 11 games, but he's been productive overall during the second half.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Absent from lineup
Rotowire
Espinal is not in the lineup for Friday's contest versus the Pirates.
After starting each of the previous 16 games, Espinal will begin Friday's series opener on the bench. Noelvi Marte will hold down third base for the Reds.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Slides to second base
Rotowire
Espinal started at second base and went 0-for-4 in Monday's 1-0 win over Atlanta.
Espinal, who has been seeing regular duty at third base, moved over to second to cover for the injured Jonathan India (elbow), who was removed from Sunday's contest and absent from Monday's lineup. Espinal is 4-for-21 over the last six games, but his second-half body of work remains strong -- he's batting .358/.402/.514 over 33 games since the All-Star break.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Getting call at third base
Rotowire
Espinal will start at third base and bat eighth in Wednesday's contest against the Astros.
Espinal has started two straight and five of the last eight games at third base, as it's looking like he has leapfrogged Noelvi Marte on the depth chart at the position. The 29-year-old Espinal is slashing .398/.436/.580 since the All-Star break and should continue to receive regular reps while he's swinging a hot bat.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Two RBI, stolen base in win
Rotowire
Espinal went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a stolen base in Monday's 5-3 win against the Astros.
Espinal put his team ahead with a two-run single in the fifth inning that ended up being the deciding runs Monday. Espinal has been on a tear recently, and he's been getting plenty of playing time as a result. The 29-year-old sat the previous two games due to a shin injury but made 13 straight starts prior to that, and he's hitting .385 with 10 RBI over that 16-game span (inlcuding Monday). For the season, Espinal carries a .270/.314/.404 slash line with nine homers, 42 RBI and nine stolen bases.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: In Monday's lineup
Rotowire
Espinal (shin) will start at third base and bat eighth in Monday's game versus the Astros.
It will be the first start for Espinal since he fouled a ball off his left shin Friday, although he appeared as a pinch hitter each of the previous two days. With Espinal handling third base, Noelvi Marte is getting a breather.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Game-winning knock in extras
Rotowire
Espinal (shin) entered as a pinch hitter and went 1-for-1 with an RBI in Sunday's 4-3 extra-innings win over the Brewers.
Espinal walked off Milwaukee in the bottom of the 11th inning, when he rapped a pinch-hit single off the pitcher's leg to plate Rece Hinds with the winning run. He hasn't started a game since injuring the shin Friday, but Espinal has appeared as a pinch hitter in the subsequent two games.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: On bench again Sunday
Rotowire
Espinal (shin) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.
The 29-year-old will be withheld from the lineup for a second straight game after he fouled a ball off his left shin during Game 2 of Friday's doubleheader. His playing time could take a hit even once healthy since Jake Fraley (knee) is back from the injured list, though Espinal's .386/.427/.578 slash line in 27 games since the All-Star break should help keep him in the lineup.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Pinch hits Saturday
Rotowire
Espinal (shin) entered Saturday's game as a pinch hitter and went 0-for-1 in a 5-4 loss to Milwaukee.
Espinal, who sustained an injury to his left shin during Friday's game, took infield practice prior to the game and was moving around, but he was held out of the starting lineup. Reds manager David Bell told MLB.com that they're trying to keep Espinal off his feet as much as possible and suggested the infielder may be able to play Sunday.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Remaining out Saturday
Rotowire
Espinal (shin) isn't in the Reds' lineup for Saturday's game against Milwaukee.
Espinal had to make an early exit from Friday's nightcap after fouling a ball off his left shin, and he'll take a seat for at least Saturday's game as he deals with some inflammation. His absence will open a spot in the lineup for Noelvi Marte to start at third base while batting eighth.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Injures shin
Rotowire
Espinal is day-to-day after fouling a ball off his left shin during Friday's 14-0 loss to the Brewers, MLB.com reports.
When Espinal first sustained the injury, the specific body part was unclear. Reds manager David Bell confirmed following the game that Espinal is dealing with a hematoma in the area of his left shin.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Exits early Friday
Rotowire
Espinal was removed from the second game of Friday's doubleheader against the Brewers due to an apparent foot injury, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Espinal fouled a ball off his foot and then seemed to have trouble running to first base after lining a single to left field in the fifth inning. He was able to remain in the game after multiple visits from the Reds' training staff, but the team ultimately decided to pull him once Cincinnati went on defense to start the seventh. The 29-year-old's willingness to remain in the game is a good sign that he avoided a serious injury, though the Reds may sit him down for a game or two just to be safe.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Maintaining regular lineup spot
Rotowire
Espinal will start in right field and bat sixth in Sunday's game against the Pirates.
Espinal will pick up an eighth consecutive start after he recorded at least one hit in each of his previous seven contests while going 11-for-27 with three runs and three RBI. He's seen action at third base, second base, designated hitter and now right field over the last eight games, and the Reds should continue to carve out a regular spot in the lineup for Espinal while he's wielding a hot bat.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Extends hit streak
Rotowire
Espinal started at third base and went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI in Friday's 6-5 loss to the Pirates.
Espinal delivered a two-run single that gave the Reds a 5-0 lead in the fourth inning. He's hit safely in six straight games, during which Espinal is 10-for-23 with three RBI and three runs. This continues a strong second half for the 29-year-old utility infielder. Espinal is batting .424/.452/.610 over 17 games since the All-Star break.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Starts at second base
Rotowire
Espinal started at second base and went 1-for-4 in Tuesday's 10-3 loss to the Blue Jays.
Espinal, who made a third consecutive start, was part of a lineup shuffle resulting from first baseman/designated hitter Jeimer Candelario (toe) landing on the 10-day injured list. Jonathan India moved from second base to DH, while Espinal took over at the keystone. He started the previous two games at third base, where Noelvi Marte's been playing, but Marte is in a prolonged slump and Espinal has earned additional opportunities with a strong second half so far. The utility infielder is batting .417/.440/.625 over 16 games since the All-Star break.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Homers, swipes two bags
Rotowire
Espinal started in left field and went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two stolen bases in Sunday's loss to the Giants.
Espinal has now started six of the last seven contests and will continue to vie for playing time at third base, especially with fellow third baseman Noelvi Marte struggling with a .488 OPS. The versatile Espinal has started at second base, shortstop, third base, left field and designated hitter this season, batting .243 with eight home runs, 30 RBI, 21 runs scored and eight stolen bases across 77 games played.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Hit streak ends
Rotowire
Espinal started at third base and went 0-for-3 in Friday's 3-0 loss to San Francisco.
Espinal, who made a fifth consecutive start, saw an end to a nine-game hit streak (as a starter). He entered Friday's game in a 19-for-35 stretch over the previous 12 games, which led to an increase in playing time, including starts at third base the last two games. The primary starter at the hot corner, Noelvi Marte, is batting .177 since coming back from a suspension and could be susceptible to losing playing time to Espinal.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Stays in lineup
Rotowire
Espinal started at third base and went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Wednesday's 13-4 loss to the Cubs.
Espinal and his smoldering bat made a fourth consecutive start. He's hit in all four games, going 8-for-14 with three doubles, a home run, three RBI and two additional runs. The month of July was Espinal's best of the season; the utility infielder slashed .432/.457/.727 with three homers and eight RBI over 16 games.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Four-hit night
Rotowire
Espinal started at designated hitter and went 4-for-4 with two doubles, a home run and two RBI in Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Cubs.
Espinal was in the starting lineup for a third consecutive game; with the Reds awaiting the arrival of Ty France, who was acquired Monday, Espinal slotted in at DH for the night. Once France arrives, it is expected that he and Jeimer Candelario will most frequently handle first base/DH.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Checks into lineup for nightcap
Rotowire
Espinal will start at second base and bat eighth in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader versus Atlanta.
Espinal has now picked up just two starts in the Reds' six games since the All-Star break. He saw an uptick in playing time to close out the second half while Jonathan India managed a knee contusion, but Espinal has shifted back into a utility role now that India has seemingly moved past the injury.
