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Switch-hitting corner infielder Jeimer Candelario sat out his second game in a row when the Reds played the Miami Marlins on Monday.
The 31-year-old is lost at the plate over the first 24 games in which he’s played in 16 of them. He has just nine hits in 69 at-bats with two doubles and two home runs. On the flip side, Candelario struck out 25 times.
His last home run snapped a 0-for-18 slump.
“He is ahead of the breaking ball and behind on the fastball. That’s not a good place to be,” manager Terry Francona.
After his home run helped defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 11th after four hitless games, Candelario was confident.
“I feel like I’ve got my timing back,” Candelario said.
The next 18 at-bats said otherwise. He homered in the Reds’ 8-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night and hit a double in four at-bats on Saturday. He’s been on the bench since.
Candelario reported to Goodyear, Ariz., in great shape, knowing he had to be a better fielder at third base. That shows, but his struggles to hit have everyone guessing.
At this point in 2024, which covered 17 games, Candelario was hitting .206 with two home runs. He had 13 hits in 63 at-bats with 22 strikeouts.
From May 8 through the end of June, Candelario hit .278 with 11 doubles, a triple, and 11 home runs. He finished with a .227 average with 23 doubles, two triples, and 20 home runs. He broke his big toe on August 19 and was placed on the Injured List for the rest of the season.
Candelario has 190 career doubles. He tied for the American League and Major League lead with 42 doubles in 2021.
When he signed his three-year contract with the Reds on December 11, 2023, president of baseball operations Nick Krall said, "At Great American Ball Park, some of those doubles will be home runs.”
More must-reads:
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Dodgers' Mookie Betts opens up about his World Series struggles
Los Angeles Dodgers star shortstop Mookie Betts is coming off the worst offensive season of his 12-year career, hitting .258/.326/.406 with 20 home runs, posting career lows in all slash line metrics. Now in the postseason, the 2018 MVP is costing the Dodgers their shot at consecutive World Series titles. After a hot start, Betts is 15-for-64 in the playoffs. In the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, he is just 3-for-23 without an extra-base hit. So far, Betts is one of two Dodgers players with more than 11 at-bats and no home runs, the other being Andy Pages. When asked by reporters about his struggles after the Dodgers' Game 5 loss, Betts had this to say as reported by Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic: “I don’t want to speak on anybody else. But for myself, I’ve just been terrible … “I wish it were from lack of effort. But it’s not. I mean, that’s all I can say.” Mookie Betts is leading the Dodgers towards their demise With their loss on Wednesday, the Dodgers are on the ropes, down 3-2, facing elimination in Toronto on Friday. Overall, the Los Angeles offense has gone through detrimental quiet spells in inopportune times, scoring three runs in the past two games. If we include parts of the 18-inning game on Monday, that’s four runs in 29 innings. These lulls have greatly harmed the team’s chances at winning the World Series this season. And while the Dodgers have more than their fair share of laggards, Betts plays a crucial role for the team. His spot towards the top of the batting order is nestled among his fellow MVPs and top-producers. But unlike the other top bats around him, Betts has only accounted for a total of one run, scoring no RBI in this World Series. Every time the Blue Jays walked Ohtani, they did so inconsequentially, experiencing no trouble from Betts hitting behind him. Needless to say, if the Dodgers are going to hop back into the driver’s seat, their offense will need to wake up. Los Angeles has seen success despite Betts’ slump; but with no room for error, this is an all-hands-on-deck situation, and they will more than likely need something from their star shortstop aside from his stellar defense.
Cowboys WR George Pickens has telling response to question about contract
George Pickens is having an outstanding first season with the Dallas Cowboys, and the career-best pace has come at a time when he is preparing for potential free agency. Is it possible the star wide receiver could sign an extension before he gets to that point? Pickens says that is up to his boss. Pickens, who was drafted in the second round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022, is in the final season of his rookie contract. He was asked on Thursday if he would consider signing a new deal with the Cowboys before he becomes a free agent after the season. He had a noteworthy response. "That’s kinda up to what (Jerry Jones) wants to do. All I can do is perform at my best," Pickens said. George Pickens has earned No. 1 wideout money Pickens has 685 receiving yards through the first eight weeks of the season, which ranks third in the NFL. His six touchdown catches are already the most of his four-year career. CeeDee Lamb missed several games this season with an ankle injury, and Pickens showed during that time that he is more than capable of being the featured wideout in a quality offense. That should go a long way toward setting his market, whether he re-signs with the Cowboys or becomes a free agent. With Lamb making an average of $34M per year, the Cowboys probably cannot afford to keep Pickens. For now, the 24-year-old is at least giving off the impression that he is open to the possibility. He also suggested recently that money is not the most important thing to him with his next contract, which could keep Dallas in the running.
Steelers Sign Former Eagles Versatile OL
With Pro Bowl left guard Isaac Seumalo banged up heading into a Week 9 game against the Indianapolis Colts, the Pittsburgh Steelers have brought in some additional depth on the offensive line. Pittsburgh Signs Former Eagles OL The Steelers signed offensive lineman Jack Driscoll amidst a slew of practice squad moves earlier this week that also included adding safety Darrick Forrest and wide receiver John Rhys Plumlee, who had been a fan favorite during his initial tenure with the team last summer. Driscoll's Career After beginning his collegiate career at UMass and playing a combined 22 games there between the 2016 and 2017 seasons, Driscoll transferred to Auburn ahead of the 2018 campaign. After spending two years with the program and playing in 25 contests, Driscoll declared for the 2020 NFL Draft and was selected in the fourth round by the Philadelphia Eagles. He started four games as a rookie before starting all nine contests he suited up for in 2021 while both beginning and ending the year on the reserve/injured list. The Miami Dolphins signed Driscoll in March 2024, though he didn't make their 53-man roster and let go at final roster cuts. He ultimately landed back with the Eagles, first signing to their practice squad before joining the active roster. From 2022 to 2024, Driscoll played in 47 games for the Eagles and started five of them while logging a total of 636 offensive reps over that stretch. The 28-year-old didn't see the field throughout Philadelphia's playoff run last year, but he still came away with a Super Bowl ring after the team defeated the Kansas City Chiefs. Driscoll's Potential Role with Steelers The only other offensive linemen on Pittsburgh's practice squad are Dylan Cook and Steven Jones. Considering neither of them have ever appeared in a regular season game, Driscoll immediately becomes the most obvious elevation candidate among that trio. Seumalo has been listed as a non-participant on each of the Steelers' two injury reports so far this week. If he can't play against the Colts, it wouldn't come as a surprise if Driscoll were to be a part of the game day roster as a backup option along the offensive line. He's never played left guard in the NFL, as most of his time has come at right tackle and right guard with some left tackle reps sprinkled in. With Spencer Anderson in line to start at left guard if Seumalo is ruled out, however, Pittsburgh could also choose to use Driscoll as part of its jumbo package if he is in fact elevated and active for this week's contest.
Fantasy football Week 9: Five players who could flop
Fantasy football is all about avoiding land mines in the tough matchups. Looking ahead to NFL Week 9, let's break down some players who could disappoint based on their matchups. Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix vs. Houston Texans Nix is coming off games of 39.96 and 23.78 fantasy points against the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys, but the Houston Texans present a huge step up in class. The Texans lead the NFL in points allowed per game (14.7), yards allowed per game (266.9) and fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks. This Houston secondary is going to overwhelm Denver's wide receivers, which is bad news for Nix's fantasy owners. Minnesota Vikings RB Jordan Mason vs. Detroit Lions The Minnesota Vikings have made it clear whom they prefer in the backfield. In Aaron Jones' second game back from injury, he played 53% of the team's offensive snaps to Mason's 35%. Mason recorded only four carries for three yards and finished with a season-low 1.6 fantasy points. Don't expect much better against a Detroit Lions defense that's given up the fourth-fewest fantasy points to RBs. Tennessee Titans RB Tony Pollard vs. Los Angeles Chargers It's time to relegate Pollard to the bench. Since RB Tyjae Spears returned to his full-time role in Week 6, Pollard has scored 6.7, 12.1 and 6.3 PPR points. He's averaged only 32.0 rushing yards per game in that span, and he's been out-snapped by Spears in two of the last three games. The Los Angeles Chargers haven't been great against the run, but Pollard isn't getting enough opportunities to warrant a start. Las Vegas Raiders WR Jakobi Meyers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars This is much more about Meyers and the Las Vegas Raiders than it is about the matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Meyers clearly hasn't been himself with trade rumors swirling, as he's scored just 7.0, 7.2 and 7.9 PPR points in his last three games. The wide receiver is coming off a season-low four targets in his last game, and that might not improve with tight end Brock Bowers expected to return to the field in Week 9. Minnesota Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson vs. Detroit Lions J.J. McCarthy will return to the field and start for the Vikings in Week 9, which isn't great news for Hockenson. In McCarthy's first two starts of the season, Hockenson tallied a combined seven targets, four catches, 27 yards and 6.7 PPR points. McCarthy isn't as comfortable pushing the ball down the field, and he'll opt to target Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison when he does.
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