CINCINNATI -- Reds outfielder Scott Schebler is eligible to come off the 10-day disabled list Wednesday, but interim manager Jim Riggleman doesn't expect Schebler to be ready to play. Schebler began the second half of the season on the DL with a sprained acromioclavicular (AC) joint in his right shoulder.
"I talked to the trainer about it today, and he did not sound optimistic that he would be ready to go tomorrow," Riggleman said on Tuesday.
Schebler took batting practice on the field prior to Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the Cardinals. The Reds seem to miss his bat when he's out for extended periods. Entering Tuesday, the club was 1-3 since Schebler went on the DL on July 15 and 1-9 during his first DL stint of the season in April, when he was out with a right ulnar nerve contusion.
Without Schebler, the Reds' four-man outfield rotation has been tabled. Jesse Winker, who would normally play right field as he did the previous two games, is also banged up with soreness in his right shoulder. In the ninth inning of Tuesday's win, Winker had to hit the ground between first and second base to avoid being hit by a line drive from Tucker Barnhart.
"I could see in his reaction after the game last night he was really upset it happened," Riggleman said. "I think he has felt something in there for months, and it was probably kind of going away, then felt it again last night."
Winker remained in the game and scored the game-winning run on a Dilson Herrera single. Winker said the shoulder has been bothering him off and on for a while and he can feel it when he makes "pretty much any baseball move." He was not ready to gauge how much time he will miss.
"I am not going to address that yet," Winker said. "I do not feel comfortable talking about that yet."
Stephens placed on 10-day DL with torn meniscus
Reds reliever Jackson Stephens was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee on Tuesday. The move was made retroactive to Monday.
Stephens said he doesn't know exactly when he suffered the injury, but said he woke up with soreness in his knee Monday morning after pitching 3 1/3 innings of relief in Sunday's loss to the Pirates.
"I didn't feel anything while I was pitching," Stephens said. "I woke up the next day, and it was swollen and pretty sore, so that's what happened."
Stephens said he was a little shocked to receive the news because he felt fine and the pain wasn't severe. He doesn't have a timeframe for his return. The injury will not require surgery, and Stephens said the swelling had gone down some already.
"He's going to need some days off, but I would anticipate within a couple of weeks he will be pitching," Riggleman said. "You don't want anything to happen to your knee, but if something were to happen the meniscus, it's about the mildest you can deal with."
In 18 appearances out of the bullpen for the Reds, Stephens has a 4.82 ERA and 23 strikeouts over 28 innings.
Gennett wins Heart and Hustle Award
Reds second baseman Scooter Gennett was awarded the Cincinnati Reds 2018 Heart and Hustle Award.
The award honors active players who demonstrate a passion for the game of baseball and best embody the values, spirit and traditions of the game. The Heart and Hustle Award, awarded to one player on every team, is the only award in Major League Baseball that is voted on by former players.
"It is a great honor," Gennett said. "There are a lot of guys in here that bust their butt every day and give 100 percent. To get recognized for that award is an honor. That is something I have always done and felt like I should do, is give 100 percent no matter what."
The final winner from the 30 team winners will be announced on Nov. 8 at the 19th Annual Legends for Youth Dinner in New York City. Previous winners include Anthony Rizzo, Michael Trout, Dustin Pedroia and Jose Pujols.