Reds get reinforcements as McLain, Hays, D¨ªaz come off IL
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CINCINNATI -- The Reds¡¯ lineup is almost completely whole again. Two key pieces -- left fielder Austin Hays and second baseman Matt McLain -- were activated from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, reliever Alexis D¨ªaz was also activated from the 15-day IL.
All three players appeared in an 8-4 Reds win over the Mariners on Tuesday night. Hays went 2-for-4 with four RBIs, including the game-winning three-run home run in the fifth inning. McLain walked three times and scored twice in five plate appearances.
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¡°I feel good. I feel ready to go. I felt ready a couple of days ago," said McLain, who had been out since April 5 because of a left hamstring strain.
Hays' Cincinnati debut has been delayed since he suffered a left calf strain on the final day of Spring Training. He played in three rehab assignment games over the weekend with Triple-A Louisville and went 2-for-9 with a home run.
¡°Honestly, I felt really comfortable in the box. My timing felt good. I was able to barrel some balls up," Hays said.
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Hays was the lone offensive player the Reds added via free agency when he signed a one-year, $5 million contract on Jan. 30.
"We may have to use some decent judgment the first week to 10 days, but it will be good to have them back," manager Terry Francona said.
All that is missing from the Reds¡¯ lineup now is catcher Tyler Stephenson, who opened the season on the IL with a left oblique strain. Francona said Stephenson would begin catching bullpen sessions on Tuesday, with the hope he could begin a rehab assignment with Louisville next week.
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D¨ªaz opened the season on the IL due to left hamstring inflammation. The 2023 All-Star posted a 5.40 ERA with four walks and eight strikeouts over five rehab appearances with Louisville, but on Sunday, he deemed himself fit to return to the back of Cincinnati¡¯s bullpen.
However, D¨ªaz is not immediately returning to his role as closer.
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¡°We¡¯re going to pitch him when we think it makes sense," Francona said. "Just like everybody, [we¡¯ll] try to put him in situations where they can succeed, build some confidence, get him some reps and see where it goes.¡±
On Tuesday, Francona elected to give D¨ªaz the sixth inning, and it was a rocky season debut. He walked his first batter and issued a one-out walk before striking out Dylan Moore. With 26 pitches (14 strikes, 12 balls), Francona lifted D¨ªaz for Graham Ashcraft, who got out of the jam without a run crossing.
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That decision to not have D¨ªaz close immediately was also an endorsement of the work performed by Emilio Pagán, who is 4-for-4 in save chances.
¡°Whatever inning they bring me in, it¡¯s going to be the same mentality," D¨ªaz said pregame via interpreter Tomas Vera. "I just want to pitch well and help the team.¡±
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The reinforcements came as the Reds have shown improvement while winning six of their past eight games entering Tuesday following a four-game losing streak that included three straight 1-0 losses.
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In corresponding moves, the Reds optioned outfielder Jacob Hurtubise and infielder Noelvi Marte to Louisville. Marte, who was ranked as Cincinnati's No. 1 prospect ahead of the 2024 season by MLB Pipeline, was recalled from Triple-A on April 8 and went 1-for-6 with a walk in three games with the Reds.
A third player, lefty reliever Sam Moll, was placed on the 15-day IL on Monday because of a left shoulder impingement. Moll's injury cleared a spot for D¨ªaz in the bullpen.