Espinal will start at third base and bat second in Tuesday's contest against the White Sox.
Usual No. 2 hitter Matt McLain has been demoted to the No. 8 spot in the lineup. Espinal has hit second a handful of times this season but has made most of his starts much lower in the batting order, including hitting ninth in the Reds' previous game Sunday.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Steals bag in loss
Rotowire
Espinal started at third base and went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Friday's 3-0 loss to Houston.
The stolen base was the first of the season for Espinal, who logged 11 thefts in a part-time role for the Reds in 2024. He's been more of a regular in 2025, appearing in 31 of Cincinnati's 40 games to date. Friday's start was his fifth in a row at third base since Noelvi Marte (oblique) became unavailable. It was Espinal's 10th overall start, including outings at shortstop, left field and right field. With Austin Hays activated off the injured list Friday, that frees up Gavin Lux to usurp starts at the third base, but Espinal has been a valuable and productive piece and should maintain a semi-regular role.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Primed for everyday role
Rotowire
Espinal will start at third base and bat fifth in Wednesday's game against Atlanta.
Espinal will pick up his eighth straight start Wednesday and his third in a row at third base, which could be his primary home for the foreseeable future after Noelvi Marte was placed on the 10-day injured list with a Grade 2 oblique strain. The 30-year-old Espinal has recorded at least one hit in each of his previous seven starts to lift his average up to .333 over 87 at-bats. Espinal could continue to occupy a spot in the heart of the lineup while he's swinging a hot bat and while the Reds are without multiple key hitters due to injuries.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Logs Reds' lone hit
Rotowire
Espinal started at third base and went 1-for-3 in Monday's 4-0 loss to Atlanta.
The hot-hitting Espinal got the start over a slumping Noelvi Marte (3-for-22 in last six games) and extended his hit streak to six games. It was Cincinnati's lone hit. The versatile Espinal is 11-for-22 with two doubles and five RBI during the hot stretch.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Cracks three hits in loss
Rotowire
Espinal started at third base and went 3-for-4 in Saturday's 11-6 loss to the Nationals.
Espinal made a fourth straight start, this time filling in for the resting Noelvi Marte at third base. He's also started in left field twice and at second base once during that stretch, going 9-for-15 with two doubles, five RBI and two runs scored. The utility player is slashing .347/.402/.413 through 25 games and could end up holding down a near-everyday role while Austin Hays (hamstring), Christian Encarnacion-Strand (back) and Jeimer Candelario (back) are all on the injured list.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Fills in as left fielder
Rotowire
Espinal started in left field and went 1-for-3 with a walk, a double, two RBI and a run scored in Friday's 6-1 win over Washington.
Espinal started the last two games in left field and should help fill the void left by Austin Hays' hamstring injury, which landed him on the 10-day injured list. Espinal is expected to start in left against left-handers while Hays is unavailable, and Gavin Lux should start there against righties. Espinal will also move around as needed in the infield. He's batting .324/.385/.394 over 24 games (78 plate appearances) this season.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Fills in at second base
Rotowire
Espinal started at second base and went 2-for-3 with a walk in Friday's 3-2 loss to Milwaukee.
Espinal filled in for an injured Matt McLain (hamstring), who was available as a pinch hitter. That McLain entered the game suggests he might be ready to go Saturday. Espinal has appeared in six games this season while seeing time at second base, third base, left field and right field.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Two spring games, two XBH
Rotowire
Espinal started at shortstop and went 1-for-2 with a triple and a run scored in Sunday's spring game against the Giants.
Espinal has appeared in two Cactus League games -- both at shortstop -- and made an impact in both. Prior to Sunday's triple, he homered in a split-squad game against the Brewers on Saturday. The 30-year-old utility infielder/outfielder was useful to the Reds in 2024, establishing career highs in home runs (nine) and steals (11), as the team dealt with injuries throughout the roster. Cincinnati re-signed him during the offseason, presumably with the intent of having him fill a similar role in 2025.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Inks deal with Cincy
Rotowire
Espinal and the Reds agreed to a one-year, $2.4 million contract Friday to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Espinal was traded from the Blue Jays to the Reds in March and had a .246/.295/.356 slash line with nine home runs and 11 steals in 118 games during 2024. He should fill a utility role for Cincinnati again in 2025.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Fills in at second base
Rotowire
Espinal started at second base and went 1-for-3 in Wednesday's 5-2 loss to Cleveland.
Espinal filled in at second base for Jonathan India, who was held out of the starting lineup after clearing concussion protocol. Espinal's in a skid to end the season, going 4-for-37 (.108) over the 11 games, but he's been productive overall during the second half.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Slides to second base
Rotowire
Espinal started at second base and went 0-for-4 in Monday's 1-0 win over Atlanta.
Espinal, who has been seeing regular duty at third base, moved over to second to cover for the injured Jonathan India (elbow), who was removed from Sunday's contest and absent from Monday's lineup. Espinal is 4-for-21 over the last six games, but his second-half body of work remains strong -- he's batting .358/.402/.514 over 33 games since the All-Star break.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Pinch hits Saturday
Rotowire
Espinal (shin) entered Saturday's game as a pinch hitter and went 0-for-1 in a 5-4 loss to Milwaukee.
Espinal, who sustained an injury to his left shin during Friday's game, took infield practice prior to the game and was moving around, but he was held out of the starting lineup. Reds manager David Bell told MLB.com that they're trying to keep Espinal off his feet as much as possible and suggested the infielder may be able to play Sunday.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Remaining out Saturday
Rotowire
Espinal (shin) isn't in the Reds' lineup for Saturday's game against Milwaukee.
Espinal had to make an early exit from Friday's nightcap after fouling a ball off his left shin, and he'll take a seat for at least Saturday's game as he deals with some inflammation. His absence will open a spot in the lineup for Noelvi Marte to start at third base while batting eighth.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Maintaining regular lineup spot
Rotowire
Espinal will start in right field and bat sixth in Sunday's game against the Pirates.
Espinal will pick up an eighth consecutive start after he recorded at least one hit in each of his previous seven contests while going 11-for-27 with three runs and three RBI. He's seen action at third base, second base, designated hitter and now right field over the last eight games, and the Reds should continue to carve out a regular spot in the lineup for Espinal while he's wielding a hot bat.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Extends hit streak
Rotowire
Espinal started at third base and went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI in Friday's 6-5 loss to the Pirates.
Espinal delivered a two-run single that gave the Reds a 5-0 lead in the fourth inning. He's hit safely in six straight games, during which Espinal is 10-for-23 with three RBI and three runs. This continues a strong second half for the 29-year-old utility infielder. Espinal is batting .424/.452/.610 over 17 games since the All-Star break.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Homers, swipes two bags
Rotowire
Espinal started in left field and went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two stolen bases in Sunday's loss to the Giants.
Espinal has now started six of the last seven contests and will continue to vie for playing time at third base, especially with fellow third baseman Noelvi Marte struggling with a .488 OPS. The versatile Espinal has started at second base, shortstop, third base, left field and designated hitter this season, batting .243 with eight home runs, 30 RBI, 21 runs scored and eight stolen bases across 77 games played.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Hit streak ends
Rotowire
Espinal started at third base and went 0-for-3 in Friday's 3-0 loss to San Francisco.
Espinal, who made a fifth consecutive start, saw an end to a nine-game hit streak (as a starter). He entered Friday's game in a 19-for-35 stretch over the previous 12 games, which led to an increase in playing time, including starts at third base the last two games. The primary starter at the hot corner, Noelvi Marte, is batting .177 since coming back from a suspension and could be susceptible to losing playing time to Espinal.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Takes over at second base
Rotowire
Espinal entered Saturday's 10-6 win over the Marlins to play second base after Jonathan India (knee) was removed from the game in the top of the fourth inning. Espinal finished 2-for-2 with a home run and two RBI.
India sustained a left knee contusion on a steal attempt during the second frame and remained in the game for one more inning before his removal. He was scratched from a game earlier this week due to the same injury. The Reds may opt to have India sit on Sunday, the final game before the All-Star break. Miami is scheduled to start a lefty (Trevor Rogers), so the right-handed-hitting Espinal is likely to play in some capacity even if India is available.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Getting third straight start
Rotowire
Espinal will start at shortstop and bat eighth in Thursday's game against the Rockies.
Espinal will be rewarded with a third consecutive start after he went 3-for-7 with a walk, two runs and two RBI between the previous two contests. Both of Espinal's last two starts were at second base in place of Jonathan India, who battled knee soreness. The 29-year-old Espinal still appears have a role as a short-side platoon player and occasional fill-in rather than a regular in the Reds lineup.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Sitting in second straight game
Rotowire
Espinal is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.
Espinal will hit the bench for the second straight day after he had started in six straight games at either third base or designated hitter. With Noelvi Marte recently getting reinstated from an 80-game suspension to begin the season and with Jake Fraley and Jeimer Candelario returning to the lineup Saturday and Sunday, respectively, after multi-game absences, Espinal's opportunities are expected to become more limited moving forward.
