Stephenson isn't in the Reds' lineup for Saturday's game against the White Sox.
Stephenson will get a day off Saturday after going 1-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored during Friday's blowout victory. Luke Maile will start behind the dish instead while batting eighth.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Tyler Stephenson: Launches first homer
Rotowire
Stephenson went 1-for-4 with a walk, a solo home run and an additional run scored in Friday's 11-1 win over the White Sox.
Stephenson homered as part of Cincinnati's five-run third inning, his first homer of the season. The catcher is finding his groove, having hit safely in four consecutive games. Stephenson is slashing .258/.324/.419 through 34 plate appearances.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Tyler Stephenson: Retreats to bench Wednesday
Rotowire
Stephenson is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Brewers.
Stephenson will give way to Luke Maile behind the plate after catching in both of the first two games of the series with Milwaukee. Through 10 games this season, Stephenson is hitting a respectable .259 but has yet to provide a home run and has been limited to three RBI and three runs.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Tyler Stephenson: Resting Sunday
Rotowire
Stephenson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.
Stephenson is on the bench for the series finale after he caught all nine innings of Saturday's 9-6 win while going 1-for-3 with a walk. Luke Maile will catch for starting pitcher Andrew Abbott on Sunday.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Tyler Stephenson: Taking seat Friday
Rotowire
Stephenson is absent from the lineup for Friday's game against the Mets.
It looks to be a routine day off for the Reds' starting catcher. Luke Maile will be behind the plate Friday while Stephenson gets some rest.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Tyler Stephenson: On bench Monday
Rotowire
Stephenson is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Phillies.
Stephenson and Luke Maile have now made two starts apiece at catcher through the Reds' first two games, but the former still appears to be viewed as the team's No. 1 option behind the dish.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Tyler Stephenson: Out of lineup Saturday
Rotowire
Stephenson isn't in the Reds' lineup Saturday against the Nationals.
Stephenson went 1-for-4 with an RBI to begin the season Thursday, and he'll take a seat Saturday to give Luke Maile his first start of the year. The 27-year-old Stephenson still projects to start behind the dish most days for the Reds in 2024.
Reds' Tyler Stephenson: Preparing as primary backstop
Rotowire
Stephenson is preparing to be the Reds' primary catcher in 2024, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
That's essentially what Stephenson was in 2023, but a series of injuries in 2022 limited him to 50 games that season and had a cascading effect the following year. The most serious injury was to his collarbone, which may have contributed to Stephenson losing 150 points of OPS. The injuries also caused lost time behind the plate that he could have used to gain game-calling experience. That lost experience led to more starts during the Reds' postseason push for Luke Maile in 2023. The plan for 2024 is different than last spring, when manager David Bell tried creating a rotation of three catchers that had Stephenson working as a designated hitter -- he started 42 games at DH. The trick for the 27-year-old Stephenson is to maintain a middle-of-the-order bat while improving behind the plate and working with pitchers.
Stephenson agreed to a one-year, $2.525 million deal with the Reds on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
Stephenson avoided concussions in 2023 en route to a career-high 517 plate appearances -- the first time he's topped 402 plate appearances in a season. He slashed .243/.317/.378 with 13 home runs in 142 games, but given the Reds' improved depth, he will likely see significantly fewer starts at designated hitter (43 games in 2023) in 2024.
Stephenson went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run and an additional run in Friday's 19-2 win over St. Louis.
Stephenson's 13th home run of the season was the Reds' third of the fourth inning and sixth and final long ball of the night, leaving the team one shy of matching a single-game franchise record. Though the Reds are one of the few teams in baseball still competing for a playoff spot in the final series of the regular season, Stephenson isn't necessarily a lock to start behind the dish Saturday and Sunday. He and Luke Maile have been splitting work at catcher of late, with the latter starting four games to Stephenson's three over the past seven contests.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Tyler Stephenson: Takes seat Tuesday
Rotowire
Stephenson is out of the lineup Tuesday at Cleveland.
Luke Maile will start at catcher and bat ninth for the Reds as they take on the Guardians and right-hander Lucas Giolito. Stephenson went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in Sunday's series finale versus the Pirates and carries a disappointing .698 OPS through 504 plate appearances this season.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Tyler Stephenson: Goes deep Saturday
Rotowire
Stephenson went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, a walk and three total RBI in Saturday's loss to the Pirates.
Stephenson was part of an early offensive outburst by the Reds, hitting a solo homer in the first inning and adding a two-run double in the second. He had been struggling coming into the contest, going 4-for-34 over his previous 10 contests. Despite the recent struggles, Stephenson has recorded career-best marks with 12 homers and 53 RBI over 137 games this season.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Tyler Stephenson: Sitting Friday
Rotowire
Stephenson isn't in the Reds' lineup Friday against the Pirates.
Stephenson is just 2-for-22 across his last six games, and his offensive woes will now cause him to miss his second start in a row. Luke Maile will start behind the plate Friday and bat ninth.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Tyler Stephenson: Day off Wednesday
Rotowire
Stephenson is not in Wednesday's lineup against the Twins.
After starting six straight games, Stephenson will head to the bench for this day game after Tuesday's night game. Luke Maile, who is recovered from a bruised hand, is starting behind the dish and hitting ninth.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Tyler Stephenson: Taking seat Wednesday
Rotowire
Stephenson is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers.
Luke Maile will do the catching for Connor Phillips. Stephenson and Maile have alternated starts behind the plate for the last eight contests.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Tyler Stephenson: Plates winning run
Rotowire
Stephenson went 1-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored in Tuesday's 6-5 extra-inning win over Detroit.
Stephenson lined a pitch to right field to score the eventual game-winning run in the top of the 10th inning. The catcher has fought off a nasty second-half slump and is 9-for-23 (.391) with four extra-base hits and six RBI over the last seven games.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Tyler Stephenson: Out of Sunday's lineup
Rotowire
Stephenson is not in the lineup for Sunday's game versus the Cardinals, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Stephenson and Luke Maile have alternated starts behind the ploate over the past five games, and that trend will continue Sunday after Stephenson went 1-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run in Saturday's contest.
