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Cincinnati Reds outfielder TJ Friedl (wrist) is taking flips and hitting off a tee. Manager David Bell said on Tuesday that Friedl is "much further ahead" than anticipated in his six-week timetable from a fractured right wrist that he sustained back on March 16, so the center fielder's minor-league rehab assignment sounds like it's imminent. If Friedl continues to progress well, fantasy managers should be able to get him back available sometime in early-to-mid May. After breaking out a year ago, the 28-year-old left-handed hitter should serve as Cincy's everyday center fielder upon his eventual activation from the injured list. Fellow lefty-hitter Will Benson has drawn starts and hit from a favorable spot in the Reds' batting order at times against right-handed pitching this season, but he's barely on the radar in 12-team leagues with a .186/.288/.400 triple-slash line, two home runs, six RBI, and five stolen bases in 70 at-bats (20 games).
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jake Fraley (illness) and second baseman Jonathan India (illness) are both still out on Tuesday against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies due to illnesses. Fraley has been out of the starting lineup since last Friday, while India has now missed the last three games due to a bug that has been going around the clubhouse. Stuart Fairchild is in center field and is batting leadoff, while Nick Martini is the designated hitter and is batting seventh against Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sanchez. Santiago Espinal is at second and hitting in the eight-hole. Fantasy managers will need to check back on both Fraley and India to see if they're feeling good enough to return on Wednesday. Fairchild is the best DFS sleeper play out of the leadoff spot. He has yet to homer in 44 at-bats in 2024, but he does have a homer and RBI in five career at-bats against Sanchez.
The Cincinnati Reds have activated left-handed reliever Sam Moll (shoulder) from the injured list on Tuesday. Moll began the season on the injured list due to a shoulder impingement. The left-hander went 2-3 with a 3.03 ERA last season with the Reds in 70 games, including one start. By activating Moll, Cincinnati optioned right-handed pitcher Casey Legumina.
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene pitched deep into his start Monday but came away with a loss in Monday's 7-0 game against the Phillies. Greene pitched seven innings, allowing four runs on seven hits and two walks with six strikeouts. The 24-year-old is now 0-2 with a 4.55 ERA, an 11.71 K/9 rate, and a 3.92 BB/9 rate in his first five starts. The strikeout skills are evident, but Greene is still looking to take the next step toward becoming a consistent fantasy contributor. That may be difficult in his next scheduled start, which will be a tough matchup at the Rangers. This may be a matchup fantasy managers want to avoid.
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jake Fraley (illness) and Will Benson are both out of the lineup on Monday against the Philadelphia Phillies and left-hander Ranger Suarez. Fraley is missing his third straight game due to an illness, while it appears Benson is being rested with a lefty on the mound in this one. Stuart Fairchild is starting in right field and batting leadoff, while Bubba Thompson gets a start in center field and is batting in the nine-hole. Fairchild might be worth a look as a low-cost DFS sleeper in the leadoff spot. He's hitting .250 (10-for-40) so far with no homers, five RBI and five stolen bases in 2024. Fairchild is hitless in his five career at-bats against Suarez, while Thompson has never faced the soft-tossing lefty in his career.