Winker after early exit with injury: 'I am fine'
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CINCINNATI -- The Reds played the latter portion of Saturday’s 4-1 victory over the Braves without one of their best hitters, after left fielder Jesse Winker left the game in the sixth inning with a right hip contusion.
Winker made a diving attempt trying to catch a Ronald Acuña Jr. line drive that went for a double and was slow to get up. He stayed in the game and made the last out in the fifth inning when he grounded to the right side before being lifted from the contest.
“I am fine. Just banged up my hip a little bit,” Winker said. “It was tightening up on me, and just felt like the best idea was to come out and get some treatment on it as soon as I could.”
Winker is third in the National League with a .325 average, third with a .988 OPS and leads the Reds with 18 home runs -- including his first-inning solo drive to right-center field against Braves starter Ian Anderson.
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The early belief is that the injury is not serious. Winker underwent tests and an MRI, and at this point it's unclear if he will be able to start Sunday’s series finale vs. Atlanta.
“I don’t think it’s anything that’s going to be long-term at all,” Winker said.