The Reds got a worrying update on Blake Dunn on Friday, and it may have gone from a short-term setback to something much bigger.
Dunn was supposed to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville, but that plan never got off the ground. Instead, he was sent back to Cincinnati after his elbow flared up again and he was reimaged. During Friday’s game against the Cardinals, Reds broadcaster Jim Day relayed the latest, and the news was not encouraging.
"They expected him to stint with Triple-A Louisville, but that was put on hold," Day said. "His elbow was acting up again.
They sent him back to Cincinnati and he got reimaged. Terry Francona described it as a worsening of the ligament.
He's going to get a second opinion in Dallas. Surgery could be on the horizon for Blake Dunn.
That would be tough news."
Dunn has been on the injured list since June 28 with a right elbow strain.
With Dunn sidelined, Dane Myers and TJ Friedl have been splitting most of the center field work.
While Dunn’s situation turned cloudy, the Reds have also been watching Matt McLain’s rehab path. McLain was in the Louisville lineup Friday night, but Dunn was not.
On the field, the Reds continue to get major production from Stewart, who is putting together one of the best rookie seasons in franchise history. His go-ahead three-run homer on Wednesday was his 21st of the year, which tied him for the fourth-most homers by a Reds rookie.
Stewart also has 74 RBI, good for fourth in Major League Baseball. At his current pace, he’s tracking toward 118 RBI, which would blow past the Reds rookie record of 100 set by Jim Greengrass in 1953.
Elly De La Cruz has also found a groove at the top of the lineup. Since moving into the leadoff spot, he is hitting .286/.381/.536 with five home runs in 21 games. He also led off Tuesday’s win over Seattle with his third career leadoff homer and the Reds’ first of the season.
The bigger picture, though, has been uneven against National League competition. Cincinnati is just 6-22 against NL Central opponents and 25-40 against the NL overall. Its .214 winning percentage inside the division is the worst in baseball.
The contrast has been stark in interleague play. The Reds are 22-14 against American League teams, which is the fifth-best record in MLB.
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