India (heel) lands on 10-day IL
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LOS ANGELES -- It takes a high threshold of discomfort for Reds second baseman Jonathan India to not be able to play through an injury. The club didn't want the left heel pain India has been feeling to get to that level.
On Sunday, India was placed on the 10-day injured list with plantar fasciitis in his left foot -- one day after he was scratched from Saturday's lineup.
"I’ve been feeling it for about a month, nothing like it was last night," India said. "It’s just something I've got to take care of. It sucks. It’s just all a part of the process. I’m getting myself healthy."
To replace India on the 26-man roster, outfielder Stuart Fairchild was recalled from Triple-A Louisville.
Over 103 games this season, India is batting .251 with a .745 OPS, 14 home runs and 52 RBIs. He had just emerged from a slump in recent games while playing with pain, batting .314 (11-for-35) in his past nine games.
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"Maybe I play better with pain; I don’t know," India said. "It started ticking up the last day. The pain was fine. I was dealing with it. But the last day is where it got me. I can’t make this worse. If it’s worse, I’m out the whole year. Thank God I got it before it got worse."
India, 26, is eligible for activation on Aug. 8 and the goal is to have him spend the minimum time on the IL.
"We have to make sure we are able to calm it down," Reds manager David Bell said. "We want Jon to be able to play as much as possible and be able to move properly and run properly. We’ve seen him play through a lot. It just got to the point where it didn’t make sense and gradually got worse. We need to take care of Jon and make sure we get him back healthy."
With India out, it's likely that rookie shortstop Matt McLain will see more time at second base, with Elly De La Cruz shifting from third base to shortstop. That's how the Reds were positioned in the field on Saturday and Sunday vs. the Dodgers.
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Bell can also use Spencer Steer, Nick Senzel and Kevin Newman at second base.
"There’s a lot of options," Bell said. "We’ll figure that out on a daily basis.”
In the past week, India's name has popped in rumors ahead of Tuesday's 6 p.m. ET Trade Deadline. While his minor injury likely wouldn't prevent a deal for him from happening, it has seemed unlikely that Cincinnati was going to move him.
India is under club control for three more seasons. To even consider dealing him, the Reds would want a starter under club control beyond 2023, and there just aren't many of those pitchers available.