Cincinnati Reds look to Scott Rolen to power the offence – MLB News
As the likelihood of Joey Votto’s return this month has further decreased, the Cincinnati Reds may look to Scott Rolen to power the offence. The third baseman, however, is suffering from an aching back and is listed as day-to-day.
He could not appear in the Saturday’s game as the Reds scored a win over the Cubs. He had previously said he was feeling better than Thursday when he had to make an early exit due to the trouble in his lower back. Missing the game against the Milwaukee Brewers, he has not been able to play the three games against the Chicago Cubs either.
"It's better than [it was Thursday]," Rolen had said as the team scored a decisive 10-8 win over the Chicago Cubs. "I'm not moving too good yet."
The Reds have finally made a comeback. After losing five consecutive, Cincinnati are gradually regaining the ground they had ceded. Staying atop the National League Central ranking, the Reds want to exert themselves forcefully so as to make it easily into the playoffs.
The challenges, no doubt, are numerous. But the Reds do not want to be bogged down by it. They are not giving in to relentless pressure they have recently faced by the injuries of veteran regulars. The rookies are playing their part effectively well.
All said, there still is a desperate need that Votto return sooner than later.
"We're in first place, but it hasn't been easy to get here and stay here with the things that have happened to Joey and [Rolen] and [Brandon Phillips]," Baker said. "If we're going to go deep [in the playoffs], we're going to need Scotty and we're going to need Joey. I'd hoped we would get Joey back pretty soon here.”
Phillips is back, Rolen is all set to make it back – as he put it. However, it is Votto that will constitute the most important part of the Reds’ offence. That will keep the Reds rolling in and allow them to get into playoffs when it seems possible that they might make it to the World Series as well.
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