Cincinnati Reds Provide Discouraging Injury Updates on Key Veterans as Playoff Push Heightens

The Cincinnati Reds enter play on Wednesday at 62-59 and 1.0 game back in the chase for the final wild card spot in the National League.

As they chase the organization's first playoff berth since 2020, they are dealing with a bevy of injuries to the pitching staff, but also to key position players Jake Fraley and Jonathan India.

The updates on the latter this week weren't particularly encouraging either.

The following on Fraley comes from the Rotowire fantasy baseball portal:

Fraley (toe) will undergo an MRI on Aug. 18, MLB.com reports.

ANALYSIS
Fraley has already used up the 10-day minimum stay on the IL, and it's uncertain at which point he can began rehab. The results of the MRI may provide clearer answer about the outfielder's next step.

That doesn't paint a great picture for the veteran, who has been a big contributor this season for the Reds. He's hitting .263 with 15 homers and 63 RBI. He's also got 20 stolen bases.

As for India, the report is also disappointing, as he appears to be upset with the team over the handling of his foot injury.

India (foot) expressed dismay at how the Reds originally assessed his plantar fasciitis injury, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

ANALYSIS
At issue for India is how long the team had him abstain from running. At the time of his injury in late July, the club prescribed a week of inactivity. India began rehab work and suffered a setback, prompting a second MRI from a doctor in Los Angeles, which revealed a more significant tear, per MLB.com. The doctor said India should have taken two weeks off before beginning rehab. The infielder, who was scratched from a start July 29 then added to the injured list, was shut down for two weeks as of last Friday and feels would have been back had he been initially shut down for two weeks.

India is hitting .251 this season with 14 homers and 52 RBI. He's stolen 12 bases.

The Reds will play the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday at 6:40 p.m. ET.