Jeimer Candelario's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Cincinnati Reds third baseman Jeimer Candelario (knee) is out of Wednesday's lineup against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates due to knee tendonitis, and manager David Bell said it's progressively not getting better. Candelario is still able to play, but Bell said the team is "going to take a closer look at it this morning to make sure that he can keep going." The Reds have an off day on Thursday and they could utilize Candelario as the designated hitter this weekend to keep him in the lineup as he manages his knee issue. With Candelario out on Wednesday, Santiago Espinal is starting at third and batting seventh against Pirates right-hander Luis L. Ortiz. If Candelario's knee doesn't improve and he lands on the injured list, infield prospect Noelvi Marte will be another option to take over at the hot corner after being called up.

Cincinnati Reds third baseman Jeimer Candelario and outfielder Will Benson are not in Wednesday's lineup as the Reds look to clinch a series victory over their division rival Pittsburgh Pirates. Candelario has started in each of the past five games with a modest .182 AVG. Benson usually slots in right-field against right-handed pitching, but Wednesday will be an exception. As a result, Santiago Espinal will man the hot corner and bat eighth, and Jake Fraley will cover right field and bat third. They will face Pirates right-hander Luis Ortiz who enters this game with an overall 3.45 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP and allowed 10 hits and six earned runs in his previous start. Both are solid options in DFS this afternoon with a great matchup and playing in hitter-friendly Great American Ballpark.

Cincinnati Reds third baseman Jeimer Candelario achieved his second two-homer game of the month in Friday's win over the visiting Boston Red Sox, walloping two solo shots. After belting his first solo blast off Red Sox right-hander Kutter Crawford to right field to open the scoring and give the Reds a 1-0 lead in first inning, Candelario took the righty yard once more by crushing another solo jack to right field in the third frame. It's been a ridiculous month for the 30-year-old veteran switch-hitter, who's hitting a sizzling .347 (25-for-72) with eight long balls, four doubles, 17 RBI, and three stolen bases over 18 games in June. He's simply one of the hottest hitters in baseball right now, and fantasy managers should enjoy the ride while it lasts.

Cincinnati Reds infielder Jeimer Candelario (undisclosed) is back in the team's starting lineup on Friday against the visiting Boston Red Sox and right-hander Kutter Crawford, serving as the designated hitter and batting third. Santiago Espinal will handle third-base duties and will bat seventh. Candelario missed the last game due to undisclosed tendonitis, but he's feeling better now and will be available this weekend. The 30-year-old switch-hitter returns to a .251/.307/.482 with 12 home runs, 35 RBI, three steals and 27 runs scored in 247 at-bats in his first year in Cincinnati. In his only career at-bat against Crawford, Candelario recorded a hit. Candelario is hitting .338 (23-for-68) in June with six homers, four doubles and 15 RBI. Get him back into your starting fantasy lineups.

Cincinnati Reds third baseman Jeimer Candelario played the role of hero in Wednesday's win over the crosstown-rival Cleveland Guardians, smashing his 10th and 11th home runs of the year with four RBI. After hitting a solo homer off Guardians right-hander Tanner Bibee to center field in the first inning to make it 1-0 Reds, Candelario went deep once more for a three-run jack to right field in the sixth to score Will Benson and TJ Friedl and make it a 4-2 ballgame. The 30-year-old veteran switch-hitter is shaking off a slow start to the year to become one of fantasy's highest-added hitters in recent weeks, hitting .301 with seven round-trippers, 14 RBI, 11 runs scored, and two stolen bases in his last 18 games since May 22. As long as he's batting third at a hitter-friendly ballpark, Candelario will be worth riding in fantasy, though the impending return of former top prospect Noelvi Marte from suspension could soon complicate things.