Reds' Will Benson: Getting fifth start in six games
Rotowire
Benson will start in left field and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Brewers.
Benson will draw his fifth start in six games after he closed out August by going 3-for-11 with two home runs, one double and two walks over his final five contests of the month. With Jake Fraley (knee) returning from the injured list Sunday, Benson's opportunities to play against right-handed pitching will likely become more limited moving forward, but the Reds will have room for both players in the lineup in the series finale while Spencer Steer gets a day off.
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Reds' Will Benson: Goes yard again Thursday
Rotowire
Benson went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Thursday's 10-9 win over the Athletics.
Benson got the Reds on the board with his third-inning homer. This was his second game in a row with a homer, which could help his case for playing time down the stretch, but he's still unlikely to see anything more than a part-time role. The outfielder has gone 6-for-31 (.194) in August, which is right in line with his .195 average for the year. He's added 14 homers, 42 RBI, 37 runs scored and 14 stolen bases with a .676 OPS across 352 plate appearances. Even as a lefty hitter, Benson has had to share right field with a trio of right-handed options in Santiago Espinal, Rece Hinds and Amed Rosario.
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Reds' Will Benson: Homers in loss
Rotowire
Benson went 1-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Wednesday's 9-6 loss to the Athletics.
Benson's three-run home run capped a six-run seventh inning that brought the Reds all the way back from a 5-0 deficit, but they couldn't hold on for the win. The home run was Benson's first in 16 games and 13th of the season. The lefty-hitting outfielder is batting .193 with a .664 OPS and sees only sporadic playing time against right-handers.
Benson started in left field and went 1-for-2 with a stolen base in Thursday's 10-4 extra-inning win over Miami.
Benson made his first start since being reinstated off the paternity list Wednesday. The steal was his 14th. He was later pinch hit for when a left-handed reliever entered, which has been the custom for much of this season. Benson, who is batting .196 overall, is 7-for-51 (.137) against southpaws.
The Reds activated Benson (personal) from the paternity list Wednesday.
Benson missed the last three games while welcoming a new member to his family. He's not in the lineup for Wednesday's game in Miami with right-hander Valente Bellozo on the mound for the Marlins, but Benson will be available off the bench. Benson has held down a strong-side platoon role for much of the season, but he may be in store for fewer opportunities against right-handed pitching following the Reds' recent acquisition of Ty France.
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Reds' Will Benson: Goes on paternity leave
Rotowire
The Reds placed Benson (personal) on the paternity list Sunday.
Benson will miss between one and three games while he welcomes a new addition to his family. Joey Wiemer was recalled from Triple-A Louisville to add depth to the Cincinnati outfield in the short term.
Benson went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in Monday's 7-1 win over the Cubs.
Benson got the scoring started in this one, taking Jameson Taillon deep in the second inning. It was Benson's 12th long ball of the season, which gives him a new career high. Benson has four home runs in July, but other than that, he's struggled mightily since the middle of June, hitting .152/.201/.299 over his last 36 games. The 26-year-old continues to be plagued by high strikeout numbers and doesn't get on base enough to take advantage of his speed and his 13 stolen bases this year.
Benson is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Rays.
Benson will begin Sunday's game in the dugout with lefty Tyler Alexander expected to serve as the Rays' primary pitcher. Benson went 1-for-7 with four strikeouts across the first two games of the series. Spencer Steer will start in left field and bat in the cleanup spot.
