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April 16: 1B Christian Encarnacion-Strand (illness) scratched from lineup
Manager David Bell didn’t give specifics on what the symptoms were but said Encarnacion-Strand wasn’t feeling well in advance of the Reds’ series finale in Seattle.

Outfielder Spencer Steer took over Encarnacion-Strand’s usual spot at first base and hit cleanup in the finale against the Mariners. Encarnacion-Strand is the second Reds starter in as many days to be held out of the lineup with an illness, as Jeimer Candelario was scratched on Tuesday with flu-like symptoms. Candelario was also out for Wednesday’s game, with Santiago Espinal his spot at third base.

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10-DAY/15-DAY IL

RHP Ian Gibaut (right forearm strain)
Expected return: TBD
Gibaut will not make his scheduled rehab appearance for Triple-A Louisville on April 17 as he continues to deal with a pronator strain in his right forearm that he suffered in Spring Training.

Gibaut threw 25 pitches in a rehab appearance on Tuesday for the Bats in Iowa and allowed one run on one hit in two-thirds of an inning while issuing two walks. He was scheduled to pitch again the next day before a possible return to the big league club on April 20, but it will most likely take a bit longer now, according to manager David Bell, but the Reds won’t know more until Gibaut sees a doctor.

“He’s doing okay,” Bell said. “We’re trying to work through some stuff right now to see if he’s going to continue on the rehab assignment or not. So he’s not feeling great, I’ll put it that way.”

Gibaut threw two scoreless appearances for Dayton on April 5 and April 7, then had his rehab assignment moved to Louisville on April 10. (Last updated: April 17)

LHP Sam Moll (left shoulder)
Expected return: April
Moll will pitch again on Wednesday for Triple-A Louisville and make his seventh appearance with the affiliate. The left-hander has a 1-1 record with an 8.44 ERA in his six appearances so far this season, allowing five earned runs and eight hits across 5 1/3 innings. The southpaw began his rehab stint on March 29.

Moll started behind in camp after developing shoulder soreness during his offseason throwing program and opened the regular season on the injured list so he could build up his workload. (Last updated: April 15)

RHP Tejay Antone (right elbow)
Expected return: 2025
Antone had right elbow and arm surgery on April 12 that repaired tears in his ulnar collateral ligament and flexor mass tendon. It was performed in Cincinnati by team orthopedic surgeon Dr. Tim Kremchek. He is expected to miss the rest of the 2024 season, but a full timetable for a return was not immediately known.

Antone, 30, has a 2.47 ERA over 45 big league games since 2020. (Last updated: April 12)

OF TJ Friedl (right wrist)
Expected return: May
Friedl had an MRI on April 11 that showed he still needed about 7-10 more days of lighter activity before he ramps back up. He went to the team’s complex in Goodyear, Ariz., to continue his rehabilitation. Another MRI will likely be done before Friedl gets clearance to ramp up his activity. Friedl's injury dates back to a Spring Training game against the Mariners on March 16, when he attempted a diving catch and rolled his glove hand in the process. (Last updated: April 12)

LHP Brandon Williamson (left shoulder)
Expected return: Late May
After being shut down during Spring Training, Williamson began a throwing program on April 2, but has not worked off of a mound. Manager David Bell expected that Williamson would have to go back to square one of his Spring Training plan and build up to getting through five innings. That likely sets his target to return somewhere near the end of May. (Last updated: April 10)

LHP Alex Young (back)
Expected return: Late May
Young, who dealt with a back injury during camp, recently began playing catch again, but he is not close to throwing from a mound. Manager David Bell noted that Young is essentially starting his Spring Training process from scratch and will need the time to build back up again. The progression is expected to take him into late May. (Last updated: April 10)

60-DAY IL

2B Matt McLain (left shoulder)
Expected return: Possibly second half
McLain had a follow-up visit with a doctor, and there now appears to be a timeline of 4-6 months for a return from his March 26 surgery that repaired his labrum and cartilage damage. Another follow-up is scheduled in about a week.

“There is a chance he gets back this year,” manager David Bell said. (Last updated: April 1)

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