Reds News: Spencer Steer injury, Emilio Pagán exits game, NL Central standings

The Cincinnati Reds have hit rock-bottom. The Reds fell to 1-11 in one-run games with an extra-innings loss on Sunday. Shohei Ohtani hit a walk-off RBI in the 10th inning that gave the Los Angeles Dodgers a 3-2 victory over the Redlegs. The Dodgers took 3-of-4 from the Reds over the weekend series, and Cincinnati is sitting in last place in the NL Central Division.

If you're looking for a silver lining, it's going to be tough. The Reds got another brilliant effort from starter Hunter Greene and still came up short. Reds fans have seen this movie before, and it's start to look eerily similar to the 2022 season.

The Reds suffered a few injuries over the weekend as well, most notably to one of the team's best players — Spencer Steer.

Reds News: Spencer Steer dealing with ankle injury

Steer was not in the Reds lineup this past Sunday. It was the second time during the road trip that Steer wasn't on David Bell's lineup card, though he did pinch hit late in Sunday's contest. However, once he reach base on a bases loaded walk, Steer was replaced by Jacob Hurtubise.

It seemed odd at the time, as Steer is not a poor runner. The decision to pinch run for Steer seemed to only limit Bell's already thin bench. But Bell had good reason for removing his star utility player, as he revealed after the game that Steer had been dealing with a sore ankle. Cincinnati's skipper said he expects Steer back to 100% when the Reds return to action on Tuesday versus the San Diego Padres.

Reds News: Emilio Pagán exits game with triceps injury

Steer wasn't the only Reds player dealing with injuries on Sunday. Emilio Pagán, who got the ball for the Reds in the bottom of the ninth inning with the score knotted at 2-2, was removed from the game in the middle of an at-bat after the reliever stepped off the rubber shaking his right arm.

Catcher Tyler Stephenson noticed the issue immediately and went to have a word with his pitcher. Pagán and Stephenson were joined by Bell and a member of the Reds training staff. The right-hander eventually exited and was replaced by Alexis Díaz. Pagán will be examined by the Reds medical staff early this week to determine the severity of the injury.

Reds News: Cincy sits in the bottom of the NL Central standings

The Reds are in a place that few, if any, fans and pundits believed they'd be this season. Cincinnati is in last place in the NL Central with a record of 19-28. The Reds sit 8.5 games back of the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers and are 4.5 games out of the final Wild Card spot in the National League.

If you're looking for hope, the Reds have only played three games against teams in the NL Central division, so there's plenty of time for Cincinnati to climb back into the race.

If the Reds had won half (6) of the one-run games they'd lost, they'd be sitting at 25-22 and occupying the final Wild Card spot in the NL. That's how close the Reds are to actually being a contender. There's still time to turn this season around, but things are looking grim in the Queen City.

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