Cincinnati Reds' Scott Rolen to play in series against St. Louis Cardinals – MLB News
The Cincinnati Reds' manager Dusty Baker is said to be planning to play Scott Rolen in the series against the St. Louis Cardinals, starting from Friday. Injuries and weariness might well have overwhelmed the players, prompting the Reds to go carefully as the playoffs near.
Reds are occupying the first spot in the National League Central ranking, something they want to keep intact as players brace themselves for upcoming games. Potential wearing down of the players made the team manager to give a day off to both Brandon Phillips and Scott Rolen.
Scott Rolen, nonetheless – the team hopes will be fit to play and perform well in the three-game series against the Cardinals.
That is what Dusty Baker also shed light upon while talking about giving rest to both the players, and to play Rolen against the Redbirds.
"I could see him wearing down the last couple of days. I've got to spot him," Baker said. "Hopefully he'll be fresh and Brandon will be fresh. I told Brandon I was going to give him a day off here because he's been playing every day. This way, he can play all the way through the next off-day."
Currently going through one of the long stretches of games, a few players have not quite done well. Take for example, Phillips who had had .200 average in the last 11 games he has appeared, having 9-for-45 just when all-star first baseman Joey Votto has yet to be included in the roster a month after his surgery.
But the Reds have somehow fared very well in this long stretch of games, something that the team manager referred to.
"These are dog days. They don't call them dog days for nothing," Baker said. "Think of the streak we're in until Wednesday. Something has got to shake."
It remains to be seen if Rolen and Phillips regain their form and hit as they had been. Phillips had done remarkably well in the initial days of Votto’s absence. Nonetheless, in 34 games to be played in this stretch, which is set to finish next Thursday, the Reds – overall, have done well.
Tags: