Fantasy News

• Reds' Santiago Espinal: Launches pinch-hit homer

  Rotowire Jun 1, 2024

  Espinal entered as a pinch hitter and went 1-for-1 with a two-run home run in Friday's 5-4 win over the Cubs. Espinal pinch hit for Will Benson against lefty reliever Drew Smyly and launched his third home run of the season to give the Reds a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. It was the first time in four games that Espinal appeared in game. The utility infielder has been useful while the Reds deal with early season injuries.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Reds' Santiago Espinal: Back to bench role

  Rotowire May 29, 2024

  Espinal is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals. Espinal started at third base in all three games of the Reds' weekend series versus the Dodgers, but he's been a spectator for all three games of the series with St. Louis now that Jeimer Candelario is healthy again after missing time with a neck injury. The Reds will likely to continue to make room for Espinal in the lineup when the team faces left-handed pitchers, but his opportunities to play against right-handers will become more infrequent now that the team has all of its infielders available save for Christian Encarnacion-Strand (wrist) and Matt McLain (shoulder), the latter of whom has been on the injured list all season.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Reds' Santiago Espinal: Steps in at third

  Rotowire May 26, 2024

  Espinal started at third base and went 1-for-3 in Saturday's 3-1 win over the Dodgers. Espinal was a late addition to the lineup after Jeimer Candelario (neck) was scratched. The utility infielder is getting a relevant amount of plate appearances due to injuries and a player suspension. While his .195 average isn't attractive, Espinal has hit with regularity of late, going 9-for-33 (.273) with a double, a home run, three RBI, four walks, two steals and four runs scored over the last 11 games.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Reds' Santiago Espinal: Records steal in win

  Rotowire May 25, 2024

  Espinal started at third base and went 0-for-2 with two walks, a steal and a run scored in Friday's 9-6 win over the Dodgers. Espinal's stolen base was his sixth in 38 games played, tying a career high he had in 2021 (92 games) and 2022 (135 games) while with the Blue Jays. The Reds tend to be aggressive on the basepaths, and Espinal has taken advantage of more playing time than was expected when the team acquired him late in spring training.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Reds' Santiago Espinal: Pops homer in loss

  Rotowire May 16, 2024

  Espinal went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 2-1 loss to the Diamondbacks. Epsinal cracked his second home run of the season in the fifth inning and has hit safely in five straight games, going 6-for-15. The infielder is playing more than originally projected, filling in at second base for Matt McLain (shoulder) or third for Noelvi Marte (suspension), but Espinal's .200 average and .536 OPS are not enticing.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Reds' Santiago Espinal: Picks up fifth steal

  Rotowire May 12, 2024

  Espinal went 2-for-5 with a stolen base in Sunday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the Giants. Espinal was one of two Reds with multiple hits in the game, and it was his first such performance since April 24. The infielder hit a poor .121 (4-for-33) over 11 contests in between multi-hit efforts. He's slashing .186/.245/.244 with one home run, 12 RBI, six runs scored and five steals over 30 games this season. Espinal has sat out the last four games in which the Reds have faced a right-handed pitcher, though he's still been in the lineup against the last three southpaws they've faced.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Reds' Santiago Espinal: Checks back into starting nine

  Rotowire May 8, 2024

  Espinal will start at third base and bat fifth in Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks. Espinal saw a streak of six consecutive starts come to an end in Tuesday's 6-2 loss to Arizona, and before that, he enjoyed a stretch of 11 consecutive starts. He looks as though he could fall into regular playing time once again, as the Reds placed Christian Encarnacion-Strand (wrist) on the 10-day injured list Wednesday. Jeimer Candelario will move over from his usual spot at third base to cover Encarnacion-Strand's post at first base, opening up the hot corner for Espinal. Despite seeing plenty of usage in his utility role this season, Espinal has provided the Reds with underwhelming numbers (.169 average, one home run, four stolen bases, 12 RBI and five runs) across 90 plate appearances.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Reds' Santiago Espinal: Streak of 11 straight starts ends

  Rotowire Apr 28, 2024

  Espinal is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers. Thanks to both Jonathan India and Jake Fraley recently missing multiple games due to illness, Espinal has held down a regular spot in the Cincinnati infield. He started each of the last 11 games, going 7-for-34 (.206 average) with a home run and a stolen base. Now that India and Fraley are both back to full strength, Espinal is expected to move into more of a part-time role.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Reds' Santiago Espinal: Busting out against Phillies

  Rotowire Apr 25, 2024

  Espinal started at second base and went 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's 7-4 win over Philadelphia. Espinal has feasted on Phillies' pitching, going 5-for-7 with a home run and five RBI over the first two games of the series. It was his fourth straight start at second base in place of Jonathan India (illness), but the ailing India was available off the bench Wednesday and presumably will be available for the series finale Thursday afternoon.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Reds' Santiago Espinal: Three hits, homer in win

  Rotowire Apr 24, 2024

  Espinal went 3-for-4 with a home run and two total RBI in Tuesday's 8-1 victory over the Phillies. After picking up a pair of base hits earlier in the game, Espinal delivered the final blow in Cincinnati's 8-1 victory, smacking a solo home run off Ricardo Pinto in the eighth inning, his first of the season. It's just the second multi-hit game of the year for the 29-year-old Espinal -- he'd been stuck in a 1-for-19 slump over his previous seven contests. Overall, he's slashing .178/.264/.267 with seven RBI, three runs scored and three stolen bases across 17 games. While Espinal's performance Tuesday was encouraging, he'll likely retreat to a bench role when Jonathan India (illness) is ready to return.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Reds' Santiago Espinal: Covering second base

  Rotowire Apr 22, 2024

  Espinal started at second base and went 0-for-2 with a walk in Sunday's 3-0 win over the Angels. Espinal made a second consecutive start at second base, as Jonathan India (illness) was unavailable Sunday after being removed from Saturday's contest. Espinal is slashing .128/.234/.154 with five RBI, three steals and two runs scored over 15 games.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Reds' Santiago Espinal: Delivers three runs in win

  Rotowire Apr 13, 2024

  Espinal started at third base and went 2-for-4 with three RBI in Friday's 11-1 win over the White Sox. Espinal delivered one run on a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning then put the coda on the game with a two-run single in the ninth. He's typically in the lineup against left-handers but made his first start against a righty Friday, filling in for a slumping Jeimer Candelario. Both of Espinal's hits Friday were off lefties.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Reds' Santiago Espinal: Starts at third base

  Rotowire Apr 6, 2024

  Espinal started at third base and went 0-for-3 with a walk and stolen base in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Mets. Jeimer Candelario served as the designated hitter after leaving Wednesday's game with a sore elbow. It's unclear if Candelario will be limited to DH duties, but if so, Espinal could fill in at third base. He's expected to slot in somewhere anytime the Reds are facing a left-hander. Espinal is 1-for-10 with two walks and two steals through four games (three starts).

  ... See More ... See Less

• Reds' Santiago Espinal: Fills in at third base

  Rotowire Apr 4, 2024

  Espinal entered Wednesday's 4-1 win over Philadelphia after third baseman Jeimer Candelario (elbow) was removed from the game. Candelario felt elbow soreness during an eighth-inning at-bat and was replaced in the field by Espinal for the final inning. Candelario told Mark Sheldon of MLB.com that he was feeling better following the game. He'll be checked out before Friday's game against the Mets, and pending that evaluation, Espinal could start at third base.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Reds' Santiago Espinal: Shipped to Cincinnati

  Rotowire Mar 20, 2024

  The Blue Jays traded Espinal to the Reds on Wednesday in exchange for Chris McElvain. With Matt McLain (shoulder) set to miss the opening portion of the season and Noelvi Marte suspended 80 games, the Reds will bring in Espinal to give their infield a bit more depth heading into Opening Day. Espinal slashed .248/.310/.335 across 254 plate appearances last season with the Blue Jays, and he will likely serve as the main backup to Jonathan India at second base in Cincinnati. His versatility may net him a few starts across the infield.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Blue Jays' Santiago Espinal: Agrees to terms

  Rotowire Jan 11, 2024

  Espinal agreed to a one-year, $2.725 million deal with the Blue Jays on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports. The 29-year-old utility player saw 20-plus games at second base and third base last season while playing 16 games at shortstop. His defensive versatility makes him more valuable in real life than in fantasy.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Blue Jays' Santiago Espinal: Returns to bench

  Rotowire Aug 20, 2023

  Espinal is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds. Espinal went 4-for-21 with three runs and two RBI while starting in each of the past six games, but he appears primed to see fewer opportunities moving forward while he transitions back into a utility role. Bo Bichette, Kevin Kiermaier, Matt Chapman and George Springer have all returned from recent injury-related absences, bringing the Toronto lineup back to full strength.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Blue Jays' Santiago Espinal: Nabs fourth straight start

  Rotowire Aug 16, 2023

  Espinal will start at third base and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Phillies. Espinal will stick in the lineup for the fourth game in a row, with each of his last three starts now coming at third base in place of the injured Matt Chapman (finger). Though he's held his own over the last three games with three hits, two RBI and two runs over 11 at-bats, Espinal will likely be headed back to a utility role in the near future, assuming Chapman is able to avoid a trip to the injured list.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Blue Jays' Santiago Espinal: Placed on 10-day IL

  Rotowire May 22, 2023

  Espinal was placed on the 10-day injured list by the Blue Jays on Monday with a right hamstring inflammation, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports. There had been hope Espinal would avoid the IL and the fact that the Jays are calling it inflammation and not a strain would seem to suggest they're just being extra cautious. Otto Lopez is up to take Espinal's roster spot.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Blue Jays' Santiago Espinal: May not require injured list

  Rotowire May 21, 2023

  Espinal, who is out of the lineup Sunday against the Orioles with a hamstring injury, said he shouldn't need a trip to the injured list, Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star reports. The 28-year-old exited Saturday's contest with a right hamstring issue, but it doesn't appear to be a serious injury. Even if available, Espinal isn't guaranteed to rejoin the starting nine within the next couple days since Toronto's position players are otherwise healthy.

  ... See More ... See Less