Jesse Winker
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2021Mariners146500861127917032841513120.2240.3530.450
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2025Rampage667672024016132020.2630.3250.355
MLB Player Data
DateNewsComment
Jun 26 2025Winker (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment with High-A Brooklyn on Sunday, Andrew Tredinnick of The Bergen Record reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker was officially cleared for rehab games after taking batting practice at Citi Field on Thursday. The 31-year-old is eligible for activation from the 60-day injured list July 4 and has a good shot to return on that date. Winker has been shelved since early May with a Grade 2 oblique strain. Upon his return, Winker should see plenty of action at designated hitter versus right-handed pitching.
Jun 24 2025Winker (oblique) is on track to begin a rehab assignment by this weekend, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker was shifted to the 60-day injured list by the Mets earlier Tuesday, but he's nearly ready to play in games and will do so initially as a designated hitter. He is eligible for activation July 4 and should be ready to go at that time, barring setbacks.
Jun 13 2025Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said Friday that Winker (oblique) is multiple weeks away from beginning a rehab assignment, Laura Albanese of Newsday reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker suffered a Grade 2 oblique strain against the Cardinals on May 4 and has done very little in terms of baseball activities since. Prior to being injured, Winker slashed .239/.321/.418 with one home run, 10 RBI, eight runs scored, one stolen base and a 9:20 BB:K across 78 plate appearances.
May 5 2025Winker has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 oblique strain and is expected to miss the next 6-to-8 weeks, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This is unfortunate news for Winker, who was officially placed on the 10-day injured list Monday after suffering a side injury during the first game of Sunday's twin bill against the Cardinals. The injury will open up plenty of opportunities for Starling Marte and Brett Baty in the DH slot.
May 4 2025Winker (side) is expected to be placed on the injured list, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker suffered a right side injury in the Mets' Game 1 loss to St. Louis on Sunday, and he will require additional testing back in New York. The outfielder may be dealing with an oblique issue, which typically leads to a stint on the injured list. In his absence, Starling Marte stands to see more usage at designated hitter with the Mets.
Apr 30 2025Winker is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Right-hander Corbin Burnes has reverse splits, which helps explain why the left-handed-hitting Winker will begin this one on the bench. Starling Marte is batting fifth as the designated hitter for the Mets.
Apr 19 2025Winker is not in the Mets' starting lineup against the Cardinals on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With St. Louis sending southpaw Matthew Liberatore to the mound, Winker will begin Saturday's contest on the bench while Starling Marte serves as the designated hitter and bats fifth. Winker has started the season slashing .184/.238/.368 with six RBI across 42 plate appearances.
Apr 17 2025Winker is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cardinals, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker had started two of the last three games against righties, but he'll take a seat Thursday versus right-hander Andre Pallante, who has reverse splits. Starling Marte will be at designated hitter and bat sixth.
Apr 16 2025Winker went 2-for-5 with two doubles, a run scored and an RBI in Wednesday's 4-3 extra-inning loss to the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran outfielder broke an 0-for-13 skid with the performance. Winker has had a tough beginning to 2025 and missed time over the last week with an illness, but he's capable of heating up quickly if he's healthy. Through 12 games, he's batting .200 (7-for-35) with zero homers, one run and six RBI.
Apr 15 2025Winker is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran slugger returned to the lineup Monday after sitting out a few days due to flu-like symptoms, but he's back on the bench Tuesday despite the fact Minnesota is sending a righty (Bailey Ober) to the mound. Winker isn't reported to be dealing with any further issues, and he could just be getting some extra rest after recovering from the ailment. Starling Marte is receiving another turn at designated hitter in his place.
Apr 14 2025Winker (illness) will serve as the Mets' designated hitter and No. 6 batter in Monday's game against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker hadn't been included in the New York lineup for any of the previous five games while recovering from flu-like symptoms. After checking out fine following a pinch-hitting appearance in Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Athletics and then resting in Sunday's 8-0 win in the series finale, Winker has now been given the green light to make his first start in a week. A healthy Winker should continue to occupy the strong side of a platoon at designated hitter, while Starling Marte draws the majority of the starts versus left-handed pitching.
Apr 12 2025Winker isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Saturday will be the fourth straight game Winker has missed following a 5-for-24 start at the plate. All of his reps have been going to Starling Marte, who will work as New York's DH on Saturday while batting fifth.
Apr 11 2025Winker is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker and his career .667 OPS against left-handed pitchers will stay put in the dugout Friday while JP Sears toes the slab for the A's. Starling Marte will fill in as the Mets' designated hitter and bat fourth.
Apr 9 2025Winker is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This marks Winker's second straight absence from lineup against a right-handed pitcher. Starling Marte reached base three times and drove in two runs Tuesday and will be rewarded with another start at designated hitter in Wednesday's series finale.
Apr 8 2025Winker is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though he typically starts against right-handed pitchers like the Marlins' Connor Gillispie, the left-handed-hitting Winker will check out of the lineup Tuesday to open up the designated-hitter role for Starling Marte. Winker has gotten off to a sluggish start to the season, hitting .208 with three extra-base hits (two triples, one double), four RBI and a 3:7 BB:K over 27 plate appearances.
Apr 5 2025Winker went 3-for-4 with a double, two triples and two RBI in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker's third extra-base hit and second triple of the game was the crucial knock in Saturday's win -- he launched a two-out, two-strike pitch from left-hander Brendon Little off the right-field fence to drive in a pair of runs, tying the game 2-2. Winker's now 5-for-17 (.294) with four RBI to start the year while holding down the strong side of a platoon at DH.
Apr 4 2025Winker is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Blue Jays, Tim Healey of Newsday reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's right-hander Kevin Gausman on the hill for Toronto, but the left-handed hitting Winker will yield to righty Starling Marte at designated hitter. Winker is off to a 2-for-13 start at the plate this season for the Mets.
Mar 31 2025Winker is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though right-hander Cal Quantrill is on the bump for Miami, the left-handed-hitting Winker will take a seat, despite starting in both of the Mets' previous two matchups with righties. Starling Marte will step in for Winker as the Mets' DH and will handle leadoff duties.
Mar 20 2025Winker (calf) will serve as the designated hitter and bat fourth in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker has been sidelined since exiting Monday's game early due to calf cramps, but the issue seems to have subsided ahead of Thursday's contest. The 31-year-old slashed .253/.360/.405 with 14 homers and 58 RBI in 508 regular-season plate appearances last year and has shown no signs of slowing down this spring, maintaining an .805 OPS through 13 Grapefruit League games.
Mar 17 2025Winker exited Monday's Grapefruit League contest versus the Rays due to a calf cramp, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mets manager Carlos Mendoza indicated that Winker's removal was precautionary, adding that the 31-year-old "should be OK." Winker -- who was retired in his lone plate appearance Monday -- is sporting an .805 OPS this spring and projects to open the season as the Mets' primary designated hitter against right-handed pitching.
Jan 16 2025The Mets agreed to terms on a contract with Winker on Thursday, Andy Martino of SNY.tv reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Joel Sherman of the New York Post says it's a one-year, $7.5 million deal that could reach $9 million if Winker hits incentives. Winker had a solid bounce-back showing in 2024 between the Nationals and Mets, collecting a .764 OPS with 14 homers and 14 steals during the regular season before adding another long ball and a 1.168 OPS in 10 postseason contests. The 31-year-old should see fairly regular reps against righties between designated hitter and left field.
Oct 18 2024Winker will start at designated hitter and bat fifth Friday in Game 5 of the NLCS against the Dodgers, Tim Healey of Newsday reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker sat in favor of J.D. Martinez in Games 3 and 4, but he will be back in there Friday as the Mets try to stave off elimination. The 31-year-old is 2-for-7 with a 2:2 so far at the plate during the NLCS.
Oct 17 2024Winker is not in the lineup Thursday for Game 4 of the NLCS versus the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: J.D. Martinez will receive a second straight start at designated hitter after walking twice and striking out twice in four plate appearances in Game 3. Winker is slashing .267/.476/.600 with one home run this postseason.
Oct 16 2024Winker is not in the lineup Wednesday for Game 3 of the NLCS against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker has typically been starting at designated hitter against right-handed pitching, but he will begin this one on the bench versus righty Walker Buehler. The Mets will go with J.D. Martinez at DH and in the No. 6 spot in the lineup.
Oct 9 2024Winker is absent from the lineup Wednesday for Game 4 of the NLDS versus the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Phillies are sending lefty Ranger Suarez to the bump as they try to stave off elimination, so the left-handed-hitting Winker will yield to J.D. Martinez at designated hitter. Winker homered in the Mets' Game 3 victory and is a candidate to see action off the bench in Game 4.
Oct 6 2024Winker is not in the Mets' lineup for Sunday's Game 2 of the NLDS against the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker started at DH in Game 1 of the series and went 0-for-1 with two walks before J.D. Martinez pinch hit for him in the eighth inning. Martinez is starting at DH on Sunday as the veterans continue to split time at the position. Sunday will be Martinez's second start at DH in the postseason, while Winker has started three times.
Oct 2 2024Winker is not in the lineup Wednesday for Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series in Milwaukee, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker contributed a two-run triple out of the designated hitter spot for the Mets in Game 1, but he will begin Wednesday's contest on the bench against Brewers righty Frankie Montas. J.D. Martinez will be the DH and bat sixth.
Oct 1 2024Winker (back) will start at designated hitter and bat sixth Tuesday in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series versus the Brewers, Tim Healey of Newsday reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker didn't see any action in the final four games of the regular season while nursing a minor back injury, but he's feeling well enough to give it a go in the first game of the postseason. He went just 3-for-42 at the plate in September.
Sep 30 2024Winker is not in the lineup for the first game of Monday's doubleheader against Atlanta, Tim Healey of Newsday reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker has now been out of the lineup for three straight contests, with the last two coming against right-handed pitching. The Mets will go with J.D. Martinez at designated hitter.
Sep 29 2024Winker is absent from Sunday's lineup against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker will be out of the Mets' lineup for a second straight game. J.D. Martinez will serve as the designated hitter and bat sixth.
Sep 28 2024Winker isn't in the Mets' lineup Saturday versus the Brewers, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker will get a chance to clear his head Saturday after going 0-for-15 across his past seven games. His absence will move Francisco Lindor into the DH spot, opening up shortstop for Luisangel Acuna.
Sep 21 2024Winker isn't in the Mets' lineup for Saturday's game against the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With left-hander Ranger Suarez set to toe the slab for Philadelphia, the lefty-hitting Winker will grab a seat on the bench to begin Saturday's contest. Brandon Nimmo, Harrison Bader and Tyrone Taylor will start across the outfield instead.
Sep 20 2024Winker is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Phillies, Tim Healey of Newsday reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker has gone 3-for-33 through 15 games in September and will sit Friday as southpaw Cristopher Sanchez takes the mound for Philadelphia. Brandon Nimmo will shift to left field while Harrison Bader starts in center.
Sep 18 2024Winker is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Nationals, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Southpaw DJ Herz is on the hill for the Nationals, so the left-handed-hitting Winker will grab a seat. Brandon Nimmo is playing left field for the Mets while Harrison Bader patrols center.
Sep 15 2024Winker is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies, Tim Healey of Newsday reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Southpaw Cristopher Sanchez is on the bump for the Phillies, so the lefty-hitting Winker will retreat to the bench. He'll be replaced in the outfield by Harrison Bader, who covers center field while Brandon Nimmo shifts over to left.
Sep 14 2024Winker isn't in the Mets' lineup for Saturday's game against the Phillies, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The left-handed bat of Winker will sit down to begin Saturday's game while fellow left-hander Kolby Allard starts on the mound for Philly. Brandon Nimmo, Harrison Bader and Starling Marte will make up the Mets' outfield unit while Winker rests.
Sep 11 2024Winker is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though right-hander Bowden Francis is on the hill for Toronto, the lefty-hitting Winker will find himself as the odd man out of the lineup Wednesday. Between the outfield and designated hitter, the Mets have four spots available in their regular lineup for five players (Winker, Brandon Nimmo, Harrison Bader, Starling Marte and J.D. Martinez), so manager Carlos Mendoza will likely rotate off days among that group. Through nine games in September, Winker has gone 2-for-22 with seven strikeouts, so he could end up sitting more frequently than the other four players if he's unable to break out of his funk at the plate.
Sep 9 2024Winker is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker had started in each of the Mets' last six matchups -- all against right-handed pitching -- and went 1-for-18 with six strikeouts. The Mets have been running a four-man committee in the outfield of late with Winker, Brandon Nimmo, Starling Marte and Harrison Bader all vying for playing time. Winker will continue to sit regularly versus lefties, and he could find himself out of the mix versus right-handers more frequently if he's unable to break out of his funk at the plate.
Sep 5 2024Winker went 1-for-3 with a walk, a grand slam and a second run scored in Wednesday's 8-3 win over the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 31-year-old took Tanner Houck deep in the first inning, giving the Mets an early lead they would never relinquish. Winker has been a strong addition to the New York lineup as the team pushes for the playoffs -- in 30 games since being traded by the Nationals to their NL East rivals, he's slashing .306/.341/.471 with three homers, 12 runs and 13 RBI.
Sep 1 2024Winker is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Mets will shield the lefty-hitting Winker from White Sox southpaw Garrett Crochet in the series finale. Tyrone Taylor will replace Winker as the Mets' starting left fielder.
Aug 31 2024Winker went 3-for-3 with a a solo home run and an additional RBI in Saturday's 5-3 win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker helped the Mets get off to a fast start with his 404-foot solo shot in the first inning. He added an RBI single in the third frame and notched another hit in the sixth. Winker finished with his second straight three-hit performance and his third consecutive multi-hit effort. Over the latter stretch, he's gone 8-for-11 with three-extra base hits to push his season slash line up to .273/.372/.433.
Aug 21 2024Winker went 1-for-1 with a pinch-hit, solo home run in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker chose quite a time to hit his first home run with the Mets -- the outfielder led off the bottom of the ninth with an opposite-field shot off Seranthony Dominguez, giving New York a 4-3 victory. While Winker hadn't been hitting for much power before Wednesday, he's gone a respectable 15-for-52 (.288) in 18 games with the Mets while filling the strong side of a platoon in right field. However, Starling Marte's return could cut into Winker's playing time down the stretch. Overall, Winker's slashing .262/.367/.414 this season across 433 plate appearances between New York and Washington with 12 homers, 49 RBI, 56 runs scored and 14 stolen bases.
Aug 10 2024Winker is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Despite right-hander Logan Gilbert being on the mound for Seattle, Winker will yield to Tyrone Taylor in right field. Since being traded to New York near the deadline, Winker is 7-for-24 (.292) with one run and one RBI.
Aug 8 2024Winker is not in the lineup for Thursday's game in Colorado, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Left-hander Austin Gomber is on the hill for the Rockies, so the lefty-hitting Winker will begin the series finale on the bench. Jeff McNeil will handle right field for the Mets while Jose Iglesias gets a start at second base.
Aug 6 2024Winker isn't in the Mets' lineup Tuesday versus Colorado. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker and his .667 OPS against left-handers will start Tuesday's game on the bench while southpaw Kyle Freeland toes the slab for the Rockies. Tyrone Taylor will fill the void in right field while batting ninth.
Aug 5 2024WInker is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After starting consecutive games over the weekend and going 1-for-8 at the dish, Winker will get the day off Monday, despite right-hander Andre Pallante being on the mound for St. Louis. Tyrone Taylor will bat second and cover right field in Winker's stead.
Aug 2 2024Winker is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker will begin Friday's contest in the dugout with the Angels sending southpaw Tyler Anderson to the mound. Tyrone Taylor will start in right field and bat seventh.
Jul 31 2024Winker is out of the lineup for Wednesday's contest versus the Twins, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Minnesota is sending right-hander Pablo Lopez to the hill, but the left-handed-hitting Winker will nonetheless begin the tilt on the bench. Jeff McNeil will start in right field while Jose Iglesias handles second base.
Jul 29 2024Winker went 1-for-2 with a walk and one run scored in Monday's 15-2 win against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After being acquired from the Nationals on Sunday, Winker drew his first start with the Mets in right field while hitting fifth. The veteran outfielder walked and then scored on a Jeff McNeil single in the fourth in his second plate appearance before lacing a single off Cole Sands in the fifth inning. Winker is now hitting .258 with 11 homers and 14 steals this season and should garner starts in the middle of the Mets' lineup against right-handed pitching.
Jul 27 2024The Nationals and Mets agreed to a trade Saturday contingent upon players passing physicals that will send Winker to New York, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Assuming all players involved are medically cleared, Winker will bolster the Mets' corner outfield depth and could see some action at DH. In Jeff McNeil and Brandon Nimmo, the Mets already have a pair of quality lefty-handed bats in the corner outfield positions, and J.D. Martinez has been the team's everyday DH, leaving Winker's immediate role up in the air. Winker is batting .257 on the year with 11 homers, 14 steals, 51 runs and 45 RBI.
Oct 3 2023Winker (quad/back) is on the Brewers' roster for their NL Wild Card Series matchup versus the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker missed the final two months of the regular season due to back and quad injuries, but he has suddenly reemerged -- likely as a pinch-hitting option against righties -- for this best-of-three series against Arizona. The 30-year-old left-handed hitter owns a career .853 OPS versus right-handed pitching.
Sep 12 2023Winker (quadricep/back) is scheduled to resume his rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Nashville, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker suffered a quad injury while playing in a game for Nashville earlier this month, but it has proven to be a minor setback and he could return to the Brewers as early as this weekend. The 30-year-old originally landed on the 10-day injured list July 26 with back spasms.
Sep 4 2023Winker (back) hurt his right quad during his rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville and he has been moved back to the 10-day injured list from his rehab assignment, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker hit .333 with a .480 OBP and zero home runs in 39 at-bats during his rehab assignment. It's unclear how serious this latest quad injury is, but Winker, who had been rehabbing back spasms, should be considered out indefinitely.
Aug 22 2023Winker (back) shifted his rehab assignment Tuesday to Triple-A Nashville, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker is now just one step away from returning to the Brewers' active major-league roster after going 5-for-13 in four games with High-A Wisconsin. He's been sidelined since late July due to back spasms.
Aug 9 2023Winker (back) will begin a rehab assignment with High-A Wisconsin next week, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker has been on the shelf since late July due to back spasms. While it sounds like he should be able to return to the Brewers before long, he might not have much of a role with the big club at this point amidst another injury-shortened, disappointing season.
Jul 26 2023Milwaukee placed Winker on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with back spasms. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker will be unavailable for at least nine more days as he tends to a troublesome back. Abraham Toro was recalled from Triple-A Nashville and will replace Winker on the 26-man active roster. Before being deactivated, Winker appeared to have lost hold of his role as a strong-side platoon man at designated hitter. He was on the bench for three of Milwaukee's last five matchups with right-handed starting pitchers.
Jul 24 2023Winker is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker has now sat out three times in the last five games, with all three of those absences coming against right-handed pitching. The 30-year-old has been a strict platoon player all season, but his underwhelming .557 OPS in 183 plate appearances versus righties looks as though it's beginning to cost him playing time. Since Winker offers little defensive value as a corner outfielder, he could wind up being a roster casualty if he doesn't show dramatic improvement with his hitting. Winker is on an $8.25 million salary for 2023 but is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
Jul 23 2023Winker is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The lefty-hitting Winker is bowing out of the lineup versus a right-hander (Bryce Elder) after an 0-for-3 day at the dish in Saturday's 4-3 win dropped his batting average to .194 for the season. The Brewers haven't yet pulled the plug on Winker as their regular designated hitter versus right-handed pitching, but his standing atop the depth chart could be shaky while he's struggled throughout the campaign to supplement his on-base skills with power (career-low .048 ISO).
Jul 19 2023Winker is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Phillies are bringing lefty Cristopher Sanchez to the hill for the series finale, so the lefty-hitting Winker will unsurprisingly head to the bench. Christian Yelich will get a day out of the outfield and will replace Winker as the Brewers' designated hitter.
Jul 15 2023Winker isn't in the Brewers' lineup Saturday against Cincinnati. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker will remain in the Brewers' dugout as the Reds send lefty Andrew Abbott to the mound to begin the game. Christian Yelich will assume DH duties Saturday while Blake Perkins starts in left field and bats sixth.
Jul 14 2023Winker isn't in the Brewers' lineup Friday against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After slashing .200/.324/.253 across 179 plate appearances during the first half of the season, Winker's poor performance will cost him a start against right-hander Graham Ashcraft on Friday. William Contreras will instead serve as Milwaukee's designated hitter, allowing Victor Caratini to start behind the dish and bat fifth.
Jul 8 2023Winker isn't in the Brewers' lineup Saturday against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker still has yet to put it together at the plate this season, as Thursday's 0-for-2 performance brought his average down to just .199 on the season. Christian Yelich will serve as Milwaukee's designated hitter Saturday, opening a spot for Raimel Tapia to start in left field and bat fifth.
Jul 7 2023Winker is not in the starting lineup Friday versus the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker will take a seat as the Brewers face off with southpaw Andrew Abbott on Friday. William Contreras will take over at designated hitter while Victor Caratini starts at catcher and bats eighth in the series opener with Cincinnati.
Jul 5 2023Winker is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Jahmai Jones will fill the DH role for the Brewers with left-hander Justin Steele set to toe the slab for the visiting Cubs. Winker has drawn only 13 plate appearances this year versus lefties, compared to his 156 plate appearances versus righties.
Jul 3 2023Winker is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Brewers are facing a southpaw starter (Drew Smyly) for the third time in four games, and Winker has now sat out each of those contests. William Contreras will handle designated-hitter duties in place of Winker, who is still being viewed as a strict strong-side platoon player.
Jul 2 2023Winker is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: For the second time in the series, the lefty-hitting Winker will retreat to the bench while Pittsburgh brings a southpaw (Rich Hill) to the bump. Since returning to action June 17 following a stint on the injured list, Winker is slashing .219/.324/.375 with a home run, two doubles and eight RBI in 10 games.
Jun 30 2023Winker isn't in the Brewers' lineup Friday against the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker has slowly begun to turn things around, going 4-for-11 with two RBI and a run scored during Milwaukee's last series against the Mets. He'll get a breather for Friday's series opener while Christian Yelich steps in as the Brewers' DH, moving Blake Perkins into left field and Raimel Tapia in right while batting ninth.
Jun 27 2023Winker isn't in the Brewers' lineup Tuesday against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker is slashing just .143/.250/.286 across 24 plate appearances since returning from the injured list June 17, and he'll retreat to the bench against left-hander David Peterson. Willy Adames will fill in as Milwaukee's designated hitter, opening a spot for Andruw Monasterio to start at shortstop and bat ninth.
Jun 25 2023Winker is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker is 2-for-17 with a home run -- his first of the season -- and 11 strikeouts in six games since returning from the injured list last weekend, and he'll sit Sunday against Cleveland righty Aaron Civale. Christian Yelich is resting his legs as the designated hitter while Blake Perkins starts in left.
Jun 21 2023Winker is not in the starting lineup Wednesday versus the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker will take a seat after he went 1-for-6 with a two-run homer and four strikeouts over the first two games of the series. Rowdy Tellez will take over at designated hitter and bat cleanup in the series finale with Arizona.
Jun 20 2023Winker went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run during Tuesday's 7-5 win against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker was 1-for-9 with five strikeouts in three games since he returned from the injured list Saturday, but he finally went deep for the first time since joining the Brewers with his two-run shot during the fourth inning Tuesday. The 29-year-old's .200/.312/.250 slash line still leaves plenty to be desired.
Jun 17 2023The Brewers reinstated Winker (neck) from the 10-day injured list Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker has had a rough time at the plate with the Brewers this season and has yet to hit a home run through 108 at-bats. He seemed to rediscover his power swing during his rehab assignment, slugging three home runs during his seven games in Nashville. Winker will likely reclaim his role as the Brewers' main DH, and his return will cause Jon Singleton to be designated for assignment.
Jun 16 2023Winker (neck) will be activated from the 10-day injured list over the weekend, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker landed on the injured list at the end of May and has been on a rehab assignment since June 7. Despite having a rough season with the Brewers so far, Winker has been raking in the minors, slashing .350/.500/.800 over 26 plate appearances. Once activated he will presumably return as the Brewers' primary designated hitter against right-handed pitching.
Jun 14 2023Winker (neck) has gone 5-for-13 with three solo home runs and four walks through the first five games of his rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Even before he landed on the injured list May 30 with a cervical strain, Winker was enduring a rough first season in Milwaukee, slashing just .204/.315/.231 with a 24.4 percent strikeout rate over 127 plate appearances. Not only has Winker looked healthy during his rehab assignment, but he's finally started to show the power that he's been missing all season, as he's now left the yard three times with Nashville after failing to do so with Milwaukee. Though the quality of competition has certainly helped Winker find some success of late, the productive run at Triple-A along with his prior track record at the big-league level may be reason enough to scoop up the 29-year-old off the waiver wire on speculation if he was dropped in deeper leagues. He'll likely be back with Milwaukee for its weekend series with Pittsburgh and should quickly reclaim primary designated-hitter duties from Jonathan Singleton.
Jun 5 2023Winker (neck) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker underwent neck surgery over the offseason and just over a week ago went on the injured list with a cervical strain. However, he's evidently feeling well enough to test things out in game action. Given his relatively brief period of down time, Winker shouldn't need many rehab contests before being activated.
May 30 2023Winker was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday, retroactive to May 28, with a cervical strain. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The injury had been described as neck discomfort, but further resting revealed the strain. There is not yet an estimated recovery timetable on Winker, who has scuffled to a brutal .204/.315/.231 batting line in 39 games when healthy this season for the Brewers. Abraham Toro will fill the vacant spot in Milwaukee's active roster.
May 28 2023Winker was scratched from the lineup for Sunday's game against San Francisco with neck discomfort, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Darin Ruf was a late addition to the lineup in place of Winker, who can be viewed as day-to-day. Even if the injury proves to be minor and Winker is back in the lineup for the start of the Brewers' six-game week Tuesday in Toronto, he's given fantasy managers little reason to justify activating him. He's batting just .204 and has yet to hit a home run or steal a base across 127 plate appearances on the season.
May 26 2023Winker isn't in Milwaukee's lineup Friday against the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker will begin Friday's game in the dugout as the Giants prepare to start a left-handed pitcher for the second consecutive game. Darin Ruf will assume the designated hitter role for Milwaukee and bat leadoff.
May 21 2023Winker is not in the starting lineup Sunday versus the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker will take a seat as the Brewers face left-hander Jalen Beeks on the mound Sunday. Darin Ruf will take over at designated hitter and bat fifth in the series finale with Tampa Bay.
May 17 2023Winker is out of the lineup Wednesday versus the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker was on the bench Tuesday with the Cardinals throwing left-hander Jordan Montgomery and he'll remain there Wednesday with young southpaw Matthew Liberatore set to toe the slab. William Contreras is taking a turn as the DH and Victor Caratini is catching.
May 16 2023Winker is out of the lineup Tuesday versus the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Milwaukee will go heavy on right-handed hitters with left-hander Jordan Montgomery set to toe the slab for St. Louis. Darin Ruf is serving as the DH and batting fifth.
May 12 2023Winker is not in the lineup Friday against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Luke Voit will serve as the designated hitter and bat sixth with left-hander Josh Taylor on the mound first for Kansas City. William Contreras is up to the No. 2 spot in the Brewers' batting order for Friday's series opener.
May 10 2023Winker is not in the starting lineup Wednesday against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker will head to the bench as the Dodgers have left-hander Clayton Kershaw on the mound Wednesday. The outfielder has only recorded six at-bats versus southpaws in 2023, going 2-for-6 with a double and a run scored while operating in a strict platoon at designated hitter. Taking over at DH is righty bat Mike Brosseau, who will bat fifth in the series finale.
May 3 2023Winker is out of the lineup for Wednesday's tilt against the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker takes a seat against southpaw Kyle Freeland and Colorado on Wednesday. Rowdy Tellez will be the designated hitter and hit fifth while Luke Voit gets the start and first base and hits sixth.
Apr 30 2023Winker is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Halos will trot out a left-hander (Jose Suarez) for the third straight game Sunday, so Winker will spend the full series coming of the bench. The veteran did come through as a pinch hitter Saturday with a two-RBI single. Luke Voit is batting sixth as the designated hitter.
Apr 28 2023Winker isn't starting Friday against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker holds a .699 OPS against lefties since 2021, so he will begin Friday's contest in the dugout against Tyler Anderson and the Angels. Rowdy Tellez will instead serve as Milwaukee's designated hitter, allowing Luke Voit to start at first base and bat sixth.
Apr 1 2023Winker is not in the lineup against lefty Justin Steele and the Cubs on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker served as the designated hitter on Opening Day and hit second, but he finished the day 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. Given that his career wRC+ against righties (136) is nearly 50 points higher than his mark against lefties (87), it's likely he won't receive many starts against opposing southpaws. Luke Voit will be the DH on Saturday.
Mar 7 2023Winker (neck, knee) is making his Cactus League debut Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker will DH and bat second in what is also his unofficial Brewers debut. He had a rough go of it in Seattle last season, due in part to neck and knee injuries, but there is bounceback potential ahead for the 2021 NL All-Star.
Jan 19 2023Winker (neck, knee) has been working out at the Brewers' spring training complex in Arizona and will not face any restrictions at the start of spring training. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker is coming back from a minor knee surgery and also an operation on his neck in which he had a herniated disc replaced. The neck injury in particular seemed debilitating, as Winker sunk to a .688 OPS in 2022, but it sounds like he'll head into 2023 with a clean bill of health. The 29-year-old also had a major ballpark upgrade when he was traded from Seattle to Milwaukee over the offseason, giving him a good shot to bounce back this year.
Dec 2 2022Winker (neck, knee) and Abraham Toro were traded from the Mariners to the Brewers on Friday in exchange for Kolten Wong and cash considerations, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker endured a rough 2022 campaign after he was acquired by Seattle and had a .688 OPS in 136 games, and he then required knee and neck surgeries after the season. Winker will earn $8.25 million in 2023, which is the final year of his contract. He should see action in the corner outfield and at designated hitter with the Brewers.
Oct 19 2022GM Jerry Dipoto announced Wednesday that Winker underwent knee surgery last week and is also scheduled for neck surgery, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 29-year-old landed on the injured list with a neck injury in early October, and he's apparently also dealing with a knee issue. The injuries capped a season to forget for Winker, who posted a career-worst .219/.344/.344 slash line in 136 games after being acquired from the Reds in March. Assuming he's healthy, Winker is likely to open spring training as the favorite to start in left field to open 2023, but his disappointing first season in Seattle could leave him with a short leash.
Oct 5 2022Mariners manager Scott Servais said Wednesday that Winker (neck) has been placed on the 10-day injured list and is unlikely to return for the postseason, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Seattle made the decision to deactivate Winker after reviewing the results of the MRI he underwent earlier Wednesday. The 29-year-old is on the Mariners' books for 2023 after inking a two-year, $14.5 million deal in June, but he may be on a short leash for an everyday role after struggling in his first season in Seattle. Winker will finish the 2022 campaign with a .219/.344/.344 slash line to go with 14 home runs, 53 RBI and 51 runs in 136 games.
Oct 4 2022Winker (neck) is not in the lineup for Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Tigers, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker was scratched from Monday's lineup with the neck issue and won't start either game of Tuesday's twin bill. Jarred Kelenic will start in left field and bat second in the nightcap.
Oct 3 2022Winker has been scratched from Monday's starting lineup against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's unclear if Winker was removed from the starting nine due to an injury, or whether skipper Scott Servais simply had a change of heart. Sam Haggerty will start the contest in left field and bat eighth.
Oct 2 2022Winker went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run and a walk in Sunday's 10-3 loss to the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It took until the ninth inning, but Winker helped the Mariners avoid a shutout with his three-run blast. It was his first extra-base hit in 15 games, and his first homer since Aug. 17, as the outfielder has endured a rough second half of the campaign. The extended slump has dropped his slash line to .219/.344/.344 with 14 homers, 53 RBI, 51 runs scored and 15 doubles through 136 contests. On the bright side, he's hit safely in four of his last five games.
Sep 30 2022Winker isn't starting Friday against the Athletics, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker will begin Friday's game in the dugout with southpaw Ken Waldichuk set to start for Oakland. While he rests, Sam Haggerty will start in left field and bat eighth.
Sep 29 2022Winker went 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored in Thursday's 10-9 extra-innings win over the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker drew a walk in the fourth inning and scored on a Jarred Kelenic home run. Later in the contest, Carlos Santana pinch hit for Winker. It's been a rough September for the 29-year-old, as he's gone just 8-for-47 (.170) with a solid 12:13 BB:K through 18 contests. He's at a .218/.343/.339 slash line with 13 homers, 50 RBI, 49 runs scored and 15 doubles through 134 games overall.
Sep 28 2022Winker (wrist) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 29-year-old will sit for the second straight game after he suffered a left wrist bruise on a hit-by-pitch Sunday. Winker should be considered day-to-day while Sam Haggerty starts in left field and bats sixth Wednesday.
Sep 27 2022Winker (wrist) is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game versus the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran outfielder exited Sunday's contest with a bruised left wrist and will be sidelined for at least one game. Winker had X-rays come back negative and should be considered day-to-day until his status is updated.
Sep 25 2022Winker, who left Sunday's game against the Royals with a bruised left wrist, underwent X-rays that came back negative, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker was replaced by a pinch runner in the fifth inning after being hit by a pitch, and he should be considered day-to-day for now. He'll be able to rest since the Mariners have a scheduled day off ahead of Tuesday's series opener against Texas.
Sep 24 2022Winker will sit against lefty Kris Bubic and the Royals on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker had more than a platoon role for much of the year, but he's been on the bench against the last eight lefties the Mariners have faced. He actually has reverse splits this season, posting a 126 wRC+ against lefties and a 97 wRC+ against righties, though those numbers sit at 83 and 136, respectively, for his career. Sam Haggerty will get the start in left field.
Sep 20 2022Winker is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game at Oakland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker is 5-for-34 through 11 games in September and will take a seat Tuesday with lefty JP Sears on the mound for the A's. Sam Haggerty will start in left field and bat ninth.
Sep 19 2022Winker is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker will take a seat for the second game in a row with the Angels bringing another lefty (Jose Suarez) to the bump for the series finale. Before he was on the bench for Sunday's 5-1 loss, Winker started in each of the preceding five games and went 3-for-19 with five strikeouts.
Sep 10 2022Winker isn't in the lineup Saturday against Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker is resting after he went 2-for-7 with a double, a run, three walks and a strikeout over the last three games. Sam Haggerty will start in left field and bat seventh.
Sep 8 2022Winker went 1-for-2 with a double and a walk in a loss to the White Sox on Wednesday before being lifted for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the seventh inning. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It was an increasingly rare productive offensive night for Winker, who'd been mired in a 1-for-22 slump over the seven games prior to Wednesday's. The offseason addition is trudging through his poorest season at the plate by far in his big-league career, as his .222 average and .352 slugging percentage are both low-water marks. However, Winker has been able to salvage matters to an extent with a .344 on-base percentage that's largely the byproduct of a career-high 15.5 percent walk rate, and he's also been undeniably held back by a .252 BABIP.
Sep 5 2022Winker isn't starting Monday against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Although right-hander Lance Lynn is starting for the White Sox on Monday, Winker is resting after going 0-for-19 with a run, five walks and seven strikeouts over his last six games. Taylor Trammell will start in left field and bat sixth.
Sep 1 2022Winker is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Tigers, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With the Tigers bringing a lefty (Eduardo Rodriguez) to the hill for the second straight day, the lefty-hitting Winker once again finds himself on the bench. Sam Haggerty will pick up the start in left field in place of Winker.
Aug 31 2022Winker isn't starting Wednesday against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker will get a breather after he went 0-for-11 with four strikeouts over the last three games. Sam Haggerty (finger) is returning to the lineup as the left fielder and batting ninth.
Aug 26 2022Winker was ejected from Friday's game against the Guardians at the end of the eighth inning for arguing balls and strikes, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker struck out on a called third strike to end the eighth inning and exchanged words with the umpire before being tossed from the matchup. Prior to his ejection, he went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts. It seems unlikely that the incident will lead to a suspension, so he should be available for Saturday's game against Cleveland.
Aug 25 2022Winker went 2-for-3 with a walk in a loss to the Nationals on Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker produced the only multi-hit effort of the afternoon for the Mariners, his third such tally of August. The veteran outfielder has shown some life at the plate over the last week-plus of what has been a lackluster season, putting together a .269/.375/.500 slash line that includes two home runs, six RBI and matching 15.6 percent walk and strikeout rates across the last eight games.
Aug 21 2022Winker is out of the lineup for Sunday's game in Oakland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The lefty-hitting Winker will duck out of the lineup with southpaw JP Sears taking the hill for Oakland. Dylan Moore will step in for Winker as the Mariners' left fielder.
Aug 18 2022Winker went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and two runs scored in Wednesday's 11-7 victory over the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker scored early on a Carlos Santana single in the third inning, then launched a two-run shot in the sixth that scored Adam Frazier. It was Winker's 13th home run of the year and his fourth in August. In 37 at-bats this month, Winker has picked up nine hits and 12 walks but has also struck out 10 times giving the outfielder a .243/.420/.568 slash line.
Aug 16 2022Winker went 2-for-5 with a solo home run, an additional run and an additional RBI in Monday's 6-2 victory versus the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker took Shohei Ohtani deep in the first inning, and he added a run-scoring groundout in the ninth. The veteran outfielder finished with his first multi-hit game since Aug. 1. He's hitting .258 so far this month, but he has a .439 OBP thanks to a 24.4 percent walk rate. Winker has also gone deep three times in 10 August contests.
Aug 15 2022Winker is in the lineup for Monday's game against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker was held out Sunday with a left-hander on the mound for the opponent, but he will be back in action Monday night. He will serve as Seattle's designated hitter and occupy the third spot in the batting order.
Aug 14 2022Winker is out of the lineup for Sunday's game at Texas. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 29-year-old was back in the lineup the past two games after a brief absence due to back spasms, and he'll return to the bench for Sunday's series finale. Sam Haggerty will take over in left field with Winker receiving a day off in the series finale.
Aug 12 2022Winker (back) is starting in left field and batting cleanup Friday against the Rangers, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 28-year-old sat out the past two games after leaving Monday's contest with back spasms, but he'll rejoin the lineup for Friday's series opener after Seattle had a scheduled day off Thursday. Winker is 5-for-18 with two home runs, five RBI, five runs and a 9:5 BB:K through seven games in August.
Aug 10 2022Winker (back) isn't starting Wednesday against the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker is out of the lineup for a second consecutive matchup as he continues to deal with back spasms. He remains day-to-day for now, but Sam Haggerty will shift to left field while Jarred Kelenic starts in center.
Aug 9 2022Winker (back) is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Yankees, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker was lifted from Monday's contest due to back spasms and will be out of the starting nine for at least one game. It's unclear if the 28-year-old will be available off the bench, and he should be considered day-to-day until the team updates his status. Jake Lamb will start in left field and bat cleanup.
Aug 8 2022Winker left Monday's game against the Yankees due to back spasms, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker will likely be re-evaluated Tuesday morning to determine his availability moving forward. Jake Lamb would likely man left field if Winker can't go Tuesday.
Aug 7 2022Winker went 1-for-3 with a grand slam and a walk in Sunday's 6-3 win over the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker's third-inning blast off Angels starter Tucker Davidson gave the Mariners enough offense for the win. Across his last seven games, Winker has gone 6-for-20 (.300) with three homers, seven RBI and six runs scored. He should still see a majority of the playing time in left field, but the return of Mitch Haniger on Saturday and the expected activation of Julio Rodriguez (wrist) from the injured list this coming week could see Winker receive more days off. The 28-year-old outfielder has a .230/.349/.365 slash line with 11 homers, 41 RBI and 36 runs scored through 100 contests.
Aug 6 2022Winker is not in the lineup for the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker has handled lefties fairly well this season, but he will get a breather with the Mariners loading up on right-handed hitters against Angels starter Reid Detmers. Kyle Lewis will get the nod in left field, which could become a more common occurrence with fellow outfielder Mitch Haniger back in action.
Jul 31 2022Winker went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker took Astros reliever Ryne Stanek deep in the eighth inning to tie the game at 2-2. Over his last 11 games, Winker has found himself in a 6-for-35 (.171) funk, but injuries to Julio Rodriguez (wrist) and Dylan Moore (back) should secure the veteran's role in the everyday lineup. Winker is slashing .226/.336/.349 with nine homers, 37 RBI, 31 runs scored and 14 doubles through 93 contests.
Jul 30 2022Winker is not in Saturday's lineup against the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker will head to the bench against tough southpaw Framber Valdez. Dylan Moore gets the start in left field, batting sixth.
Jul 26 2022Winker (ankle) is in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rangers, according to Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker was held out Monday after injuring his ankle the day before, but he will not miss any further action. He will man left field and hit fifth in Seattle's batting order.
Jul 25 2022Winker (ankle) isn't starting Monday against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker sprained his right ankle during Sunday's loss to Houston and is day-to-day, but he'll be out of the lineup for at least one game. Adam Frazier is shifting to left field while Abraham Toro starts at second base.
Jul 24 2022Winker (ankle) is considered day-to-day after leaving Sunday's loss to the Astros, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker sustained a sprained right ankle in the bottom of the second inning while colliding with Jeremy Pena on the basepaths, but manager Scott Servais is optimistic that the injury isn't significant. Winker will be monitored ahead of Monday's series opener against the Rangers, but Servais hopes that the outfielder will avoid a trip to the injured list.
Jul 14 2022Winker went 2-for-8 with two solo home runs across both ends of Wednesday's doubleheader sweep of the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Making his return to the lineup from a six-game suspension, Winker took Josiah Gray deep in the fourth inning of the matinee before repeating the feat in the sixth inning of the nightcap against Erick Fedde. The 28-year-old outfielder needed some time to adjust following an offseason trade from Cincinnati, but he appears to have found his groove in Seattle, slashing .288/.405/.530 in 21 games over the last month with four of his eight homers on the season.
Jul 12 2022The Mariners reinstated Winker on Monday after he completed his six-game suspension. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: One of three Mariners players handed a suspension for his role in a June 26 benches-clearing brawl with the Angels, Winker was initially handed a seven-game ban before it was reduced to six following an appeal. He ended up missing the entirety of the Mariners' six-game slate last week, but he should be ready to reclaim an everyday role in left field or at designated hitter in the final week before the All-Star break.
Jul 4 2022Winker is out of the lineup for Monday's game in San Diego and will begin serving his six-game suspension Monday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Since Winker was one of three Seattle players that received suspensions for their roles in the benches-clearing melee that occurred June 26 against the Angels, MLB allowed the Mariners to stagger the suspensions for the players in question. With J.P. Crawford having completed his four-game suspension Sunday and drawing back into the lineup Monday, Winker will now begin his suspension, which was reduced from seven games following an appeal. Dylan Moore is starting in left field Monday, while Justin Upton and Sam Haggerty could also see more work in the outfield while Winker is unavailable. Winker is eligible to return July 12 against the Nationals, at which point Julio Rodriguez -- who is appealing a two-game suspension -- may begin serving his ban, if it's not dismissed entirely.
Jul 2 2022Winker, who is in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Athletics, has had his suspension reduced to six games, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker was initially issued a seven-game suspension for his role in a brawl during last Sunday's game against the Angels, but he had his punishment reduced by one matchup following his appeal. Since he's starting in left field and batting second Saturday, he presumably won't begin to serve his suspension until at least Sunday.
Jul 1 2022Winker went 2-for-4 with a double and a run in a win over the Athletics on Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker produced one of two multi-hit efforts of the night for Seattle, pushing his season slash line to an uneven .235/.353/.351. The 28-year-old is still awaiting word on his appeal of the suspension he received for igniting an ugly brawl against the Angels on Sunday, and he's now boasting a .412/.524/.706 slash line with 12 extra-base hits across his last 10 games.
Jun 29 2022Winker went 1-for-4 with a two-run double in a win over the Orioles on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker, who is appealing his seven-game ban for his role during a benches-clearing brawl against the Angels on Sunday, came through with a two-bagger in the eighth inning that snapped a scoreless tie. The veteran outfielder is enjoying an impressive close to June after starting the month mired in a deep funk, as he's hitting .400 (10-for-25) with three doubles, two home runs and eight RBI across the 33 plate appearances covering his last eight games.
Jun 27 2022Winker has been suspended seven games for his actions during a benches-clearing brawl on Sunday against the Angels, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker received the longest suspension of any player involved in the incident. He has appealed the decision so will remain the starter in left field while hitting third Monday against the Orioles.
Jun 26 2022Winker was ejected from Sunday's game against the Angels in the second inning after he was involved in a benches-clearing brawl, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Adam Frazier came on to pinch run for Winker, who charged toward the Angels bench after he was hit by a pitch during his first plate appearance of the day. In the ensuing brawl, multiple Mariners and Angels players were seen throwing punches, though it's unclear if Winker was one of them. MLB will likely review footage of the brawl over the next day or two before determining if Winker or any other Mariners and Angels players will be subject to fines or suspension. Angels starter Andrew Wantz -- who hit Winker with the pitch -- was also ejected after the game resumed following an 18-minute delay.
Jun 24 2022Winker went 3-for-4 with a double, a run scored and a walk in Friday's 4-3 win over the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker has hit well lately, going 7-for-14 with two home runs, two doubles and five walks in his last four games. The outfielder hasn't found long stretches of consistency at the plate, but his 15.8 percent walk rate has kept him productive. For the season, he's slashing .226/.347/.343 with six home runs, 29 RBI, 24 runs scored and 11 doubles across 70 contests.
Jun 22 2022Winker went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Wednesday's 9-0 win over the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker contributed an RBI single in the third inning and a two-run blast in the fifth. He's homered in consecutive contests for the first time all year, and three of his last four hits have gone for extra bases. The outfielder is up to a .219/.337/.335 slash line, six long balls, 29 RBI and 22 runs scored through 68 contests. It's too soon to say he's shaking off his season-long power outage, but it's clear he's making some progress in that area, though that could also be a product of facing the Athletics' pitching.
Jun 21 2022Winker went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double and two RBI in Tuesday's 8-2 win over the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker contributed an RBI double in the sixth inning and a solo shot in the seventh as the Mariners took control of the game. The outfielder had gone just 1-for-10 across his last five contests before Tuesday's two-hit effort. The homer was his third in June and his fifth of the season to go with a .214/.332/.319 slash line, 26 RBI, 21 runs scored and 10 doubles in 67 games. With Dylan Moore and Justin Upton challenging for playing time, Winker could find himself on the bench against southpaws more frequently going forward -- he sat out against two of the three lefties the Mariners faced over the weekend against the Angels.
Jun 18 2022Winker is not in the lineup for Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker will end up on the bench for the beginning of both games of this twin bill, but he did appear off the bench in the matinee, going 1-for-2 with a strikeout. Justin Upton is starting at designated hitter while Adam Frazier starts in left field.
Jun 16 2022Winker went 2-for-3 with a walk in a loss to the Twins on Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker generated the only multi-hit effort of the night for a quiet Mariners offense. The 28-year-old, who just signed with Seattle through next season earlier Thursday, has shown some signs of life at the plate recently, producing a .286/.464/.429 slash line over the last six games.
Jun 14 2022Winker is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker started the past 15 games and will head to the bench after posting a .655 OPS during that stretch. Dylan Moore will man left field while J.P. Crawford takes over the leadoff spot.
Jun 10 2022Winker went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Friday's 4-3 loss to the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker tied the game at 2-2 in the fifth inning, with his homer ending Red Sox starter Rich Hill's night. This was the first time Winker has hit safely in consecutive games since May 19 and 20. The outfielder has a .209/.313/.308 slash line with four homers, 24 RBI, 18 runs scored and nine doubles through 57 contests overall. Despite the lackluster numbers, he appears locked in as the Mariners' main leadoff hitter.
Jun 9 2022Winker went 1-for-3 with an RBI single, two walks and a run in a win over the Astros on Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker continues to find success at the plate mostly fleeting during his first Mariners season, as Wednesday's productive effort still leaves his season slash line at an uninspiring .209/.315/.296. However, Winker sports an impressive 13.7 percent walk rate, typically modest 15.8 percent strikeout rate and solid 21.9 percent line-drive rate, which, when factored alongside a career-low .240 BABIP, support the notion he'll eventually ascend much closer to the career .288/.385/.504 slash line he entered 2022 with.
Jun 4 2022Winker went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run and a pair of walks in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker has done alright in the leadoff role, going 6-for-26 (.231) with six walks, a homer and a pair of doubles in seven games since replacing Adam Frazier atop the lineup. The long ball Saturday was Winker's first since May 14, and he only had four doubles between those homers. The power has been lacking for the outfielder in his first year with the Mariners -- he's slugging just .314 in 52 contests. He's up to three homers, 21 RBI, 16 runs scored and nine doubles for the season.
Jun 3 2022Winker went 3-for-5 with two doubles and one RBI in Thursday's victory over the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker started the game with a leadoff double and added an RBI single in the third. Thursday's performance marked the left-hander's second three-hit game and his second contest with multiple extra-base hits this season. Across his first 50 games with Seattle, Winker is slashing .220/.302/.623 with just two homers and 19 RBI.
May 28 2022Winker (shoulder) is starting Saturday against the Astros, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker was scratched from Friday's lineup due to right shoulder soreness, but he'll be back in action a day later. The 28-year-old went 3-for-18 with two runs, an RBI, three walks and four strikeouts over his last five games. He'll start in center field and lead off Saturday.
May 27 2022Winker was scratched from Friday's lineup versus Houston due to right shoulder soreness, Corey Brock of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The specifics of the injury remain unclear, but Winker has dealt with injuries to the same shoulder in the past, including a 73-game absence in 2018. The 28-year-old should be considered day-to-day until more information is available on the injury.
May 25 2022Winker went 2-for-5 with two runs in a loss to the Athletics on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Mariners' first loss to the Athletics in 14 games was a mixed bag for Winker, who was productive out of the leadoff spot but also committed a fielding error that allowed the go-ahead run to score in the seventh inning. Winker's current .219/.310/.300 slash line is still falling well below expectations based on his previous body of work, but he's shown a bit more life at the plate recently by reaching safely in 10 of his last 11 games.
May 16 2022Winker went 2-for-5 with a double and two runs in a win over the Mets on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker's second straight multi-hit effort extended his hitting streak to seven games. The 28-year-old's nightmarish start to the season is increasingly in the rearview mirror, as he sports a .310/.341/.524 slash line across his last 11 games.
May 14 2022Winker went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and a walk in Saturday's loss against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker came up big for the Mariners in the seventh inning, belting a three-run shot to right field to tie the score 4-4. However, that was the final run Seattle scored in the game as the Mets pulled out a 5-4 win. Winker batted only .169 in April but has been better in May, hitting .286 with two homers and seven RBI across 49 at-bats.
May 7 2022Winker went 2-for-5 with two doubles and a run in a loss to the Rays on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker pulled his average up back to the Mendoza Line for the first time since April 10 with his third multi-hit effort in the last seven games. The 28-year-old seems to be coming out of his extended funk, as he's produced a .321 average with a trio of two-baggers, a home run and three RBI over that span.
May 5 2022Winker went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's loss to Tampa Bay. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's been a rough start to the season for Winker, but he snapped a season-long power drought with a 411-foot solo shot to center in the fifth inning. The veteran came into the contest with just three extra-base hits -- all doubles -- over his first 105 plate appearances. After a career-best .305/.394/.556 slash line last season, Winker has hit just .189/.321/.256 in his first 26 games as a Mariner.
May 2 2022Winker went 3-for-5 with a two-run single, a double and one run in a win over the Marlins on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker put together consecutive multi-hit efforts for the first time all season and generated his third two-RBI tally in the process. Although his season line still sits at an unsightly .197/.340/.237, Winker certainly seems to be climbing out of the hole, considering his .300/.353/.400 slash over his last eight games.
Apr 25 2022Winker went 1-for-5 with an RBI sacrifice fly and a game-winning run-scoring single in an extra-innings win over the Royals on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker played a critical role in the red-hot Mariners' win, as his 10th-inning sacrifice fly tied the game at 4-4 and his 12th-inning single plated Adam Frazier with the winning run. Winker is showing signs of breaking out of a recent slump, as he was productive as a pinch hitter Saturday night before Sunday's two-RBI tally.
Apr 24 2022Winker entered Saturday's win over the Royals as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning and contributed a walk, a two-run double and a run over two plate appearances. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The struggling outfielder had gotten the night off from starting duties, but he ended up playing a part in the Mariners' 13-run breakout. Winker's eighth-inning two-bagger came at a particularly timely juncture, as it gave Seattle breathing room after the Royals had closed to within 8-7. Perhaps Saturday's productive night will help reignite Winker's bat after he'd gone 1-for-21 over the previous six games.
Apr 23 2022Winker is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker has gone just 3-for-28 (.107) since his first day off of the season, so he will get another chance to clear his head Saturday. Dylan Moore will get the nod in left field in Winker's place.
Apr 16 2022Winker went 2-for-3 with an RBI single, two walks and a run in a win over the Astros on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The offseason acquisition had the type of output fantasy managers have been clamoring for throughout his sluggish start to the season, serving as a thorn in the side of Astros pitching throughout the night. The night marked Winker's first multi-hit tally since Opening Day, and in a testament to the extent of his struggles to date, it only served to push his average back up to .200.
Apr 13 2022Winker is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the White Sox, James Fegan of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With a southpaw (Dallas Keuchel) on the hill for Chicago, the lefty-hitting Winker will take a seat for the first time this season. The righty-hitting Dylan Moore will replace Winker in left field.
Apr 9 2022Winker went 2-for-4 with a walk in a win over the Twins on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker had a noteworthy regular-season Mariners debut, as not only did he produce the only multi-hit effort of the day for Seattle, but he also made a game-ending catch at the left-field wall on a Gary Sanchez drive that initially looked like it had a chance to leave the yard. Winker operated out of the No. 3 spot in the order Friday and is slotted there again Saturday while starting at designated hitter.
Mar 26 2022Winker took grounders at first base during Saturday's practice, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: A single spring drill is by no means an indication that Winker will spend a considerable amount of time at first base this season, though it would certainly benefit the Mariners if he proves capable at the position. He's not a good defender in the the outfield, an area that's full already in Seattle and will become overcrowded once Julio Rodriguez debuts and once Kyle Lewis (knee) gets healthy. At first base, Ty France is the only viable option due to Evan White's (groin) injuries and underperformance. France could shift to second or third base at times to accommodate Winker at first.
Mar 20 2022Winker went 1-for-3 with a two-run double in a Cactus League loss to the Angels on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The recent trade acquisition had gone hitless in his first two at-bats with his new team Friday, but his third-inning two-bagger Sunday brought home Cal Raleigh and J.P. Crawford to erase an early 1-0 deficit. Winker's timely hit came off right-handed Angeles reliever Janson Junk, but manager Scott Servais has already gone on record with his plans to give the lefty-swinging Winker more opportunities against southpaws than he typically received in Cincinnati.
Mar 15 2022Winker, who posted just 118 plate appearances against southpaws in 2021, is slated to see more at-bats against left-handed pitching this season, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The new trade acquisition's stellar .305/.394/.556 slash line for the Reds last season was largely built on the back of right-handed pitching -- Winker posted a .346 average and 1.070 OPS in 367 plate appearances in that split. Meanwhile, the lefty-swinging 28-year-old has just a .188 average and .600 OPS across 306 plate appearances in same-handed matchups, but manager Scott Servais noted he planned to give Winker more opportunities in those scenarios this season than he'd had in Cincinnati.
Mar 14 2022The Mariners are acquiring Winker and Eugenio Suarez from the Reds on Monday in exchange for Jake Fraley, Justin Dunn and minor-league pitcher Brandon Williamson, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker earned an All-Star nod with the Reds last season and finished the campaign with a .305/.393/.556 slash line to go along with 24 home runs, 32 doubles, 77 runs and 71 RBI in 110 games. The 28-year-old is arbitration eligible for 2022 and 2023, so he'll be in Seattle for at least the next two seasons, barring another trade. Winker will step into an everyday role with the Mariners and be a key piece of the lineup.
Sep 28 2021Winker (ribs) will miss the remainder of the 2021 season, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker resumed rehab drills last weekend after he was placed on the 10-day injured list with an intercostal strain Saturday. However, the 28-year-old won't be rushed back into game action, and manager David Bell said Tuesday that Winker will be sidelined for the final few games of the season. The outfielder appeared in 110 games this year and posted a career-best .950 OPS with 24 homers, 77 runs and 71 RBI.
Sep 25 2021Winker (intercostal strain) went through a series of agility drills and played catch with a trainer before Friday night's game against the Nats, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. "We're starting back to where we were a couple weeks ago," Winker said. "This was the next step." ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's probably too late for Winker to return this season, and if/when the Reds get eliminated by the Cardinals, there's little point in rushing him back.
Sep 18 2021Winker was placed on the 10-day injured list due to an intercostal strain Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker was activated from the injured list Friday after being sidelined with the same issue for around one month. However, he appeared to aggravate the injury on a swing in the team's game Friday night and exited shortly thereafter when he was hit by a pitch in the back. The end result could be a frustrating end to the season for Winker, who has posted an excellent .305/.394/.556 line across 485 plate appearances.
Sep 17 2021Winker exited Friday's game against the Dodgers after being hit by a pitch in the back, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Friday's contest was Winker's first game back since landing on the injured list with a rib injury on Aug. 15. It's unclear how serious the new issue may be, but the fact that he has also dealt with back problems at various points in the campaign raises the level of concern.
Sep 16 2021Winker (ribs) will play in another rehab game Thursday and could return as soon as Friday, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker has been out for just over a month while battling an intercostal strain. He's gone 0-for-5 in a pair of rehab games thus far, but the Reds have started losing ground in a very tight playoff race and may decide that he's their best option even if he hasn't quite found his groove yet.
Sep 14 2021Winker (ribs) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker's last game action came nearly a month ago Aug. 15. That suggests he may need more than a game or two before he's ready to return, though the Reds are locked into a very tight playoff race, which could inspire them to bring Winker back as quickly as possible.
Sep 10 2021Winker (ribs) hit on the field Friday and could go on a rehab assignment soon if his body recovers well from the activity, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: An intercostal strain has kept Winker out for nearly a month. Reports from last Friday indicated that the outfielder was about a week from beginning a rehab assignment, and he still appears to be on that same timeline.
Sep 3 2021Winker (ribs) is still a week away from beginning a rehab assignment, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker has been out since mid-August with an intercostal strain. He recently resumed baseball activities but needs some time before he's ready for game action. The stated timeline should still give him a chance to return from the injured list in mid-September.
Aug 29 2021Winker (ribs) recently started throwing and is expected to begin swinging a bat this week, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Manager David Bell said Wednesday that Winker had yet to resume baseball activities and was still "a couple weeks away" from returning from the injured list, but the outfielder has apparently made some progress over the past few days. Assuming he avoids any setbacks, the 28-year-old should continue ramping up his baseball work, and he's likely looking at a potential activation in mid-September.
Aug 25 2021Manager David Bell said Wednesday that Winker (ribs) has yet to resume baseball activities and remains "a couple weeks away" from returning from the injured list, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker is rehabbing in Cincinnati while the team is on a road trip, and it's unclear when he may be able to resume baseball activities. The 28-year-old landed on the shelf Aug. 16 with an intercostal strain, and given his current progression he may not rejoin the big-league roster before mid-September.
Aug 19 2021Winker (ribs) hasn't yet resumed baseball activities, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker landed on the 10-day injured list with an intercostal strain Monday, and the Reds were initially hopeful that he'd be able to return when he's first eligible. However, manager David Bell said Thursday that he expects the 28-year-old to spend more than the minimum of 10 days on the shelf. A better timetable for Winker's return should come into focus once he resumes baseball activities.
Aug 16 2021Winker's MRI confirmed Monday that his intercostal strain isn't a long-term issue, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker hit the injured list Monday after aggravating an issue which had been plaguing him for the past several days during Sunday's game against the Phillies. He'll be out for at least 10 days, but the Reds appear optimistic that he won't be out longer than that.
Aug 15 2021Winker exited Sunday's win over the Phillies after aggravating his intercostal strain and will be evaluated further Monday, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker missed the previous two games with what was labeled lower-back tightness, but he's apparently been dealing with an intercostal strain. He rejoined the lineup Sunday and went 0-for-2 before aggravating the injury on a swing. The 28-year-old's outlook should receive more clarity after he's evaluated Monday, but he should at least be expected to be out of the starting nine for a day or two.
Aug 14 2021Winker (back) is expected to return to the lineup Sunday or Monday, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker was absent from both Friday and Saturday's games against the Phillies while working through tightness in his lower back. The Reds got good news following an examination Saturday, however, so it looks as though he'll miss at most one more game.
Aug 13 2021Winker was scratched form the lineup for Friday's game against the Phillies due to lower back tightness, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker was replaced by Shogo Akiyama in the lineup shortly before the start of Friday's contest. It's not yet clear when the 27-year-old will be able to return to action.
Aug 12 2021Winker went 3-for-4 with a grand slam and a pair of runs scored in Thursday's blowout win over the Braves. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker slugged his grand slam off Atlanta starter Kyle Muller in the second inning, giving the Reds a 4-1 lead. It was the 24th round tripper of the season for Winker, who snapped a mini three-game hitless skid and later added a double and a single. The 27-year-old has been one of the biggest breakout stars of 2021, slashing .309/.397/.562 with 71 runs driven in.
Aug 10 2021Winker will be on the bench Tuesday against Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker sits for the first time in over a month. It's no surprise to see his day off come against a southpaw (Drew Smyly), as he owns a 53 wRC+ against lefties this season compared to a 182 wRC+ against righties, but there's been no indication he's about to slip into a platoon role. Aristides Aquino will start in left field in his absence.
Aug 9 2021Winker went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk and a run scored Sunday in the Reds' 3-2 win over the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The two-bagger was Winker's third in as many days and his 14th in 22 games since the All-Star break, allowing him to match Atlanta's Ozzie Albies for the MLB lead in the category (31). Even in traditional rotisserie leagues where he doesn't gain extra value for doubles, Winker has been a solid four-category producer in the second half with four home runs, 17 RBI, 17 runs and a .341 average. His efforts have helped keep the Reds alive in the National League wild-card race while outfield mate and fellow All-Star Nick Castellanos has missed time with a wrist injury.
Aug 7 2021Winker went 3-for-5 with a home run and six RBI on Saturday against the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker got the Reds on the board with an RBI double in the third inning, drove in two more runs with a single in the sixth, then capped off his performance with three-run homer in the eighth. His day actually could have been more prolific had he not flied out with the bases loaded in the fourth. Winker is off to a scorching start to August, hitting .421 (8-for-19) with six extra-base hits in six games. For the season, he's slashing .307/.390/.57 with 23 homers and 67 RBI.
Aug 4 2021Winker went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk and an RBI in Tuesday's 7-5 loss to the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker has come out of the All-Star break on a tear, hitting .319 with a whopping 11 doubles through 17 games. He's now up to 28 doubles on the season, placing him in a tie for fifth place among all players. Though Minnesota is bringing lefty Charlie Barnes to the hill for the series finale Wednesday, the lefty-hitting Winker will stick in the lineup, manning left field and batting second.
Jul 27 2021Winker went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 7-4 win over the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker continued his breakout season Tuesday with a solo home run off Adbert Alzolay in the first inning. The first-time All-Star is hitting a ridiculous .476 in his last five games with two home runs and five RBI.
Jul 24 2021Winker went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double and four RBI in Saturday's 5-3 victory over the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker played a part in all but one of the Reds' runs in the contest. He doubled home a pair of runners in the second inning and crushed a two-run homer to right field in the seventh. Winker has enjoyed two three-hit games in his past five contests and is slashing .297/.374/.531 with 20 homers and 56 RBI in his breakout campaign.
Jul 20 2021Winker went 3-for-6 with two doubles, two runs scored and two RBI in Monday's 15-11 extra-innings loss to the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He sent the game to extras with his second two-bagger of the night, driving in Aristides Aquino in the ninth inning off Mets closer Edwin Diaz, but the Reds couldn't seal the deal. Winker hasn't gone yard since June 29, slashing .140/.234/.158 over his prior 14 games coming into Monday, but this performance is a good sign the 27-year-old is ready to bust out of his slump.
Jul 6 2021Winker is not in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against Kansas City, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker will get a chance to reset after going hitless across his last 14 at-bats. Aristides Aquino, Shogo Akiyama and Tyler Naquin will align the Reds' outfield from left to right as Nick Castellanos serves as the DH.
Jun 29 2021Winker went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk Tuesday against the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker took Nabil Crismatt yard in the fifth inning to record his 19th homer of the season. Winker has shown no negative effects since suffering a minor injury Saturday, doubling and homering in two starts since. This performance continued what has been a breakout season for Winker, as he's maintained a .324/.402/.596 line with 48 RBI and 55 runs scored across 311 plate appearances.
Jun 28 2021Winker (hip) will bat second and play left field Monday against the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker left Saturday's game against Atlanta with a bruised right hip, but he didn't seem concerned with the issue. He didn't start Sunday's game but did draw a walk off the bench. He'll be involved from the start this time around and will look to build on his excellent .325/.401/.590 season slash line.
Jun 27 2021Manager David Bell said Winker (hip) will be "100 percent" heading into Monday's game against the Phillies, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker was held out of the lineup Sunday after exiting Saturday's contest with a bruised right hip, though he did appear as a pinch hitter Sunday. He's 2-for-19 over his past six games and will attempt to get back on track Monday.
Jun 26 2021Winker isn't concerned about the bruised right hip that forced him to exit Saturday's game against Atlanta, saying, "I am fine. Just banged out my hip a little bit," Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker will test out his hip prior to Sunday's contest and could end up sitting for at least one game, but there doesn't appear to be any reason to fear for a long absence at this point. That's great news for the Reds, as Winker is hitting an excellent .325/.399/.590 on the year.
Jun 19 2021Winker went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Friday's loss to the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker didn't do much offensively but was responsible for one of the Reds' runs, as he plated Kyle Farmer home with an RBI single in the top of the third inning. The slugging outfielder has hit safely in six straight games, a span in which he's racked up three doubles, four RBI, one run scored and a 2:2 BB:K.
Jun 15 2021Winker is on the bench for Tuesday's game against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 27-year-old receives a day off after seven consecutive days in the lineup. Winker hasn't gone deep since his three-homer outburst June 6, but he has seven hits and four RBI in 25 at-bats as well as six walks in that seven-game span. Aristides Aquino gets the start in left field Tuesday.
Jun 13 2021Winker went 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI in Sunday's win over the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker made his presence felt on the scoresheet in the bottom of the seventh inning, as he plated home both Kyle Farmer and Shogo Akiyama with a ground ball to center. He now has 12 doubles on the year to go along with 17 homers, 39 RBI and a .344 average. Winker already has 11 RBI in June.
Jun 6 2021Winker went 3-for-4 with three home runs, six total RBI and a walk in Sunday's win over the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker had one of the best offensive showings of the year, as he took the Cardinals pitching staff deep three times while also reaching base through a walk. The slugging outfielder socked a two-run shot in the top of the first, added a three-run bomb in the second -- both off John Gant -- and delivered the game-winning run with a solo shot in the ninth off reliever Alex Reyes. As a result, Winker became the first player in franchise history to record multiple three-homer games in a single season and he leads the National League in dingers with 17. The 27-year-old outfielder is now hitting .350/.412/.665 with 17 homers and 37 RBI.
Jun 3 2021Winker went 3-for-5 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker slammed a two-run home run off Adam Wainwright with two outs in the second inning. His 14 home runs lead the Reds and tie for third in the National League. The 27-year-old's .348 batting average is second to teammate Nick Castellanos in all of baseball. In addition, his 1.044 OPS is third in all of baseball.
May 31 2021Winker isn't starting Monday's game against the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker had gone 7-for-19 with three runs, an RBI, three walks and two strikeouts across his last five games. Shogo Akiyama will take over in left field and bat eighth.
May 24 2021Winker went 2-for-5 with a home run and an additional run scored in Sunday's loss to the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker has gone deep in three straight games and in four of his last six contests, racking up five homers -- out of nine hits -- during that stretch. The slugging outfielder now has 13 homers on the season and is just three shy of tying his career-best mark of 16, established during the 2019 season.
May 22 2021Winker went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After slugging three homers Friday, Winker took Brett Anderson deep in the third inning Saturday to give the Reds a brief 2-1 lead. The 27-year-old now has 12 homers through 38 games -- matching his total in 54 contests last year -- and the weekend power display has pushed his slash line to .353/.412/.673.
May 21 2021Winker went 4-for-4 with three home runs, an additional run scored and a walk in Friday's win over the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker socked three solo shots Friday -- two off starter Adrian Houser and one off reliever Josh Lindblom -- and he now has 11 bombs on the year, sitting near the top of the home run leaderboard in the National League. The outfielder has recorded three multi-hit games over his last five contests as well, and while he's not going to launch multiple homers on a game-to-game basis, he's been a consistent hitter. Winker has recorded at least one hit in 11 of his last 15 contests -- posting a .362 average in that span.
May 16 2021Winker is not in the lineup Sunday at Colorado. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker started the past six games but will sit for the series finale against the Rockies after going 0-for-5 with four strikeouts Saturday. Shogo Akiyama will start in left field Sunday for the Reds.
May 11 2021Winker went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a home run and two RBI in Tuesday's 7-2 loss to the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The rest of the Reds lineup only managed five singles. It's Winker's sixth multi-hit performance in the last 12 games, and on the season the 27-year-old is hitting a dynamic .374 with seven homers, 19 RBI and 24 runs in 27 contests.
May 5 2021Winker went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI during Wednesday's 1-0 win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 27-year-old had two of the seven total hits in the contest and delivered the only run of the game on a single during the bottom of the 10th inning. Winker has a .359/.422/.641 slash line with six homers, six doubles, 17 RBI and 20 runs through 23 games this season.
May 2 2021Winker went 1-for-4 with a walk and four runs scored in Sunday's 13-12 win over the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Despite only collecting one hit, Winker still managed to cross home four times after a walk and a hit by pitch. He scored his final run in the 10th after starting the inning on second base. Winker has hits in 14 of his last 15 games and has scored eight runs over the last five.
May 1 2021Winker (back) isn't starting Saturday's game against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker left Friday's win over the Cubs in the seventh inning due to back tightness. While manager David Bell was originally hopeful that Winker could play Saturday, Tyler Naquin will start in left field and lead off.
Apr 30 2021Winker exited Friday's win over the Cubs due to back tightness, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker was replaced by Mark Payton in left field to begin the seventh inning, and manager David Bell revealed after the game that the 27-year-old was dealing with a back issue. However, Bell was hopeful that Winker would be back in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cubs.
Apr 28 2021Winker went 3-for-5 with a double, a solo home run, two RBI and two runs scored in Tuesday's win over the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker led off the game with a solo blast, and he has now homered in three consecutive games. His productive streak extends well beyond that stretch as he also has a 12-game hitting streak, during which he's managed five home runs, 12 RBI and 10 runs scored. Among the hottest hitters in the game, Winker has done plenty to solidify his status as the club's leadoff hitter going forward.
Apr 27 2021Winker went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer and two runs scored in Monday's 5-3 win over the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker was quiet most of the game but came through when it mattered most. He led off the 10th inning by driving a sinker up and away in the zone to the opposite field, giving the Reds a 5-3 lead. It was his second long ball in as many days and his fourth in the last five games. The 27-year-old has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball, slashing .382/.432/.691 with five home runs, 13 RBI and 14 runs scored over 17 games to begin the year. He should continue to see everyday reps despite the Reds' crowded outfield group.
Apr 25 2021Winker went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 5-2 loss to the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker went deep off Jack Flaherty to break the shutout in the seventh inning. He extended his hitting streak to 10 games Sunday, collecting six extra-base hits during that span. The lefty slugger owns a terrific .381/.435/.667 slash line with nine extra-base hits in 69 plate appearances this season.
Apr 22 2021Winker went 2-for-4 with two walks, two home runs, three RBI and two total runs scored in Thursday's extra-inning loss to the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Reds let this one slip away and are now back at .500, but Winker did all he could, reaching base four times and homering twice out of the leadoff spot. Winker missed time earlier in the season with calf cramps, but he's now batting .373 with a 1.095 OPS, so there should be no more questions about him possibly splitting time with Tyler Naquin.
Apr 17 2021Winker went 3-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI versus Cleveland in an extra-inning win Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker played a key role in the Reds' comeback victory, rapping a single to bring home Nick Senzel with the tying run in the ninth inning. Winker has reached base in all but one of his nine games this season and is slashing .394/.429/.606 through 35 plate appearances.
Apr 13 2021Winker went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer in Monday's 3-0 win over the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker made his return to the lineup Monday after being held out the last two games following an early departure Friday with calf cramps. The 27-year-old launched a two-run homer to straightaway center in the third to get things rolling for the Reds. Winker has had a scorching start to the season, as he's 8-for-16 with two doubles, a home run, three RBI and five runs scored. The Reds have a bit of a crowded outfield with Winker, Tyler Naquin, Nick Senzel and Nick Castellanos all readily available, so it may be tough for Winker to find consistent playing time with all four outfielders hitting the ball well to begin the year.
Apr 12 2021Winker (calf) will bat leadoff and start in left field Monday against the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Just as manager David Bell suggested would be the case a day earlier, Winker will rejoin the lineup for the series opener in San Francisco after a calf cramp prevented him from playing in the Reds' final two games of the weekend in Arizona. Prior to exiting Friday's contest, Winker had missed six days of action while recovering from an illness, so he'll be making just his fifth start of the season Monday. Tyler Naquin -- who has slugged five home runs and driven in 14 while serving as the primary replacement for Winker -- will take a seat Monday.
Apr 11 2021Manager David Bell said Winker (calf) will be "fully available" off the bench for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Bell nearly included Winker in the lineup Sunday, but the outfielder will get another day off for precautionary purposes while he works back from calf cramps. Expect Winker to re-enter the starting nine for Monday's game in San Francisco.
Apr 10 2021Even though Winker (calf) is not starting, he's available to pinch-hit and could be back in the lineup Sunday, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With Tyler Naquin on fire, the Reds are back to having four players for three spots in the outfield again. It's possible that Winker and Nick Senzel will have to share some of their starts with Naquin in the immediate future.
Apr 9 2021Winker was removed from Friday's game against the Diamondbacks due to calf cramps, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker went 3-for-3 with a double, one run and one RBI to begin Friday's contest, but he was replaced by Nick Senzel in the top of the sixth inning. The severity of the injury isn't yet clear, but Tyler Naquin could fill in as the left fielder if Winker is forced to miss additional time.
Apr 7 2021Manager David Bell said that Winker (illness) will take part in baseball activities during a pregame workout Wednesday before a determination is made on whether he'll be available off the bench in the Reds' series finale with the Pirates, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Even if the Reds elect not to use Winker for a fourth straight game, the 27-year-old would still appear on track to re-enter the starting nine for Friday's series opener in Arizona. Tyler Naquin will continue to work in left field for Winker after slugging three home runs and driving in 10 over the past three games.
Apr 6 2021Winker (illness) will sit for the third straight game Tuesday against Pittsburgh. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker left in the middle of Saturday's game against the Cardinals with the illness, and it's apparently bad enough that he's still feeling the effects three days later. Tyler Naquin remains the starter in left field in his absence. Winker is at least back with the team and could appear off the bench, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Apr 5 2021Winker (illness) remains out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker will stick on the bench for a second straight game while he continues to recover from the illness that forced him out of Saturday's win over the Cardinals. Tyler Naquin will spell him in left field while serving as Cincinnati's leadoff hitter.
Apr 4 2021Winker (illness) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker was removed from Saturday's 9-6 win after feeling under the weather, so he's presumably just getting a day off to recuperate from the ailment. Tyler Naqun will man left field and hit leadoff in Winker's stead.
Apr 3 2021Manager David Bell said Winker was removed from Saturday's win over the Cardinals because the outfielder "wasn't feeling great," C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 27-year-old went 1-for-4 with one run before being replaced by Nick Senzel to open the sixth inning. It doesn't appear to be a serious concern, so Winker may not miss time and should be considered day-to-day.
Mar 4 2021Winker (hip) will lead off and play left field Thursday against the Royals, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker was scratched Monday with a sore hip, but the Reds called that decision "very precautionary." That appears to be correct, as he's now back in the lineup just three days later. Opening Day is still four weeks away, so he'll have plenty of time to get up to speed by the start of the season.
Mar 1 2021Winker's removal from the lineup with a sore hip prior to Monday's game against Oakland was "very precautionary" per manager David Bell, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Teams have very little reason not to be cautious this early in camp, so it's no surprise to see that the Reds aren't particularly worried about Winker's health. "He's come into spring training and really ramped up fast," stated manager David Bell. "I think that's a good sign that he was feeling so strong and really excited to be here. Sometimes you do have to be a little careful." While he may sit for a few more days in that same spirit of caution, his readiness for Opening Day isn't under serious threat.
Feb 24 2021Reds manager David Bell said that Winker worked "really hard" over the offseason to improve his defense and has increased his speed, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.. "I don't know how he did that," Bell said. "Every extra step is a big deal." ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Without the DH in the NL, Winker's defensive ability takes on a greater sense of urgency. The Reds already have a defensive liability in right field in Nick Castellanos, and Winker previously has been rated poorly as a defender. The team would prefer not to be below average in both corners, and a lack of improvement could lead to either Winker or Castellanos being replaced in the late innings frequently.
Jan 15 2021Winker and the Reds avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.15 million contract Friday, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker took a step forward at the plate in 2020, though it's perhaps more accurate to say he took two steps forward and one step back. He was suddenly no longer a contact hitter, as his 25.1 percent strikeout rate was nearly 10 points worse than the 15.2 percent mark he managed over his first three seasons, but he more than made up for it with a big jump in power. His .289 ISO smashed his .181 mark through his first three campaigns, leading to 12 homers in just 54 games and an overall .255/.388/.544 slash line.
Sep 27 2020Winker is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Twins, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker seemed to be breaking out of his platoon role earlier this season, but he's been struggling in a major way and this marks his third consecutive absence against a lefty. Joey Votto will DH against Rich Hill while Aristides Aquino, Nick Senzel and Nick Castellanos play the outfield from left to right.
Sep 23 2020Winker went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Wednesday's 6-1 win over the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: At one point the hottest hitter in all of Major League Baseball, Winker has cooled in September, hitting .095 in 42 at-bats around a stretch of missed time due to back tightness. He's fallen in the order against righties as a result, and Winker has also sat against the left two lefties the Reds have faced.
Sep 19 2020Winker isn't starting Saturday against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker blasted a three-run homer Friday, and Saturday's absence appears to be routine with left-hander Dallas Keuchel on the mound for the White Sox. Tyler Stephenson will serve as the designated hitter.
Sep 15 2020Winker (back) returns to the lineup Tuesday against the Pirates, batting sixth as the designated hitter. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker had been sidelined since leaving Thursday's game against the Cubs with a tight back. His return should be a boost to the Reds' lineup, as he hit a strong .276/.400/.569 with 10 homers in 150 plate appearances prior to the injury.
Sep 14 2020Winker will test his tight back in a pre-game workout Monday and could be available off the bench for both halves of the day's doubleheader against the Pirates, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker will sit for the fourth straight game in the afternoon contest, and it sounds as though he'll be sitting for the nightcap as well. The fact that he's yet to be placed on the injured list suggests that he could start at some point this week, perhaps quite soon, though a clearer picture of his availability won't come until after he completes his workout.
Sep 13 2020Winker (back) is not in the lineup Sunday against the Cardinals, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker will be sidelined for the third straight contest as he continues to deal with back tightness. Joey Votto will serve as the designated hitter while Mike Moustakas starts at first base Sunday.
Sep 12 2020Winker (back) isn't in the lineup Saturday against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker will sit out a second straight contest after leaving Thursday's game with back tightness. Aristides Aquino will serve as the designated hitter Saturday.
Sep 11 2020Winker (back) is not in the lineup Friday against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker left Thursday's game against the Cubs with a tight back, and the issue is evidently serious enough for him to miss at least one game. Nick Castellanos will rest his legs as the designated hitter in his absence, with Aristides Aquino starting in right field.
Sep 1 2020Winker is serving his one-game suspension Tuesday against the Cardinals, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker was appealing his suspension, but he'll elect to serve it against St. Louis on Tuesday, with left-hander Kwang-Hyun Kim starting for the Cardinals. He should be available Wednesday.
Aug 31 2020Winker is appealing his one-game suspension that he received after being ejected from Saturday's nightcap and will start as the designated hitter Monday, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker was the only player to receive a suspension for his role in Saturday's incident, but he'll still be available while he appeals. If the suspension is upheld, Aristedes Aquino could fill in as the designated hitter for a game.
Aug 29 2020Winker was ejected from Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader agianst the Cubs, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The benches cleared during the fourth inning, resulting in Winker, Joey Votto and manager David Bell getting tossed for the Reds. Winker went 1-for-5 with a two-run homer and a walk between the two games prior to the ejection.
Aug 28 2020Winker went 2-for-4 with a double, a solo home run and an additional run scored in Friday's win over the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker is on an insane heater; he is 22-for-52 (.423 average) with five doubles, nine homers, nine walks and a stolen base in his last 16 games. He's blossoming into the type of hitter many expected he could be as a prospect and has fought his way out of the strict platoon role he was stuck in last year.
Aug 27 2020Winker went 3-for-3 with a walk, two home runs and three RBI in a 6-1 win over the Brewers during the first game of Thursday's doubleheader. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 27-year-old had been in a bit of a slump, going 3-for-21 with zero RBI over his prior six games, but Winker's bat snapped back to life in impressive fashion in Thursday's matinee. On the season he's now hitting .325 with eight homers, but only 13 RBI, through 29 contests.
Aug 19 2020Winker went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in a 5-0 win over the Royal's in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker made sure the Reds would avoid getting shut out in both halves of the doubleheader with his long ball in the third inning. The 27-year-old is up to six homers this season, all of which have come in his last seven games. Winker has added 10 RBI, 11 runs scored and a stolen base in 22 contests overall.
Aug 15 2020Winker went 2-for-3 with two home runs, three RBI, three runs scored and a walk in Friday's 8-1 win over the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: There may not be hotter hitter in the league than Winker. The 26-year-old has seven multi-hit games over his last 10 games, and has hit five long balls over his last five contests. With so many options in the outfield, Winker probably knew going into the season that there weren't going to be many opportunities for him to get consistent playing time, but as long as he stays hot with his bat, the Buffalo native should have the DH spot locked down and will continue to see some time in the field on occasion.
Aug 12 2020Winker went 2-for-3 with a walk, a solo home run and a stolen base in Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With multiple hits in five of his last six games, Winker has raised average nearly 200 points to .333. He's 11-for-his-last-17 and has five extra-base hits in that span, including his first three homers of 2020. It's also worth noting that Winker has started against each of the last three lefties the Reds have faced, so it seems he's finally getting a chance to establish himself as an everyday player.
Aug 9 2020Winker went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, two RBI and two runs scored in Sunday's 9-3 loss to the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Batting fifth as the DH, Winker drove in two runs on a single in the first inning and followed up with his first long ball in the fourth. Winker started against opposing lefties on Friday and Saturday (Eric Lauer and Brett Anderson), something he did on only seven occasions last season. He's one of the few Reds batting above .240 and should at least remain a fixture against right-handed pitching.
Aug 6 2020Winker went 2-for-4 with a double and a strikeout in Thursday's 13-0 loss to Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker was rung up on a bad called third strike in the sixth inning and it looked like he might have been ejected by the home-plate umpire, but only manager David Bell was tossed from the game. By sticking around, Winker was able to notch his first multi-hit game of the season; he accounted for two of the team's three total hits. We'll see if this showing earns Winker his first start of the season against a lefty, either Friday against Eric Lauer or Saturday against Brett Anderson.
Jul 27 2020Winker is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker will sit for the second time in four days with the Cubs bringing a southpaw (Jon Lester) to the hill. Christian Colon will take over as the Reds' designated hitter in place of Winker, who went 1-for-8 with a walk in the team's season-opening series with the Tigers.
Jul 24 2020Winker is not in the lineup for Friday's Opening Day game against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With southpaw Matthew Boyd starting for Detroit, the Reds will go with a heavily right-handed lineup, sitting both Winker and Shogo Akiyama, with righties Phillip Ervin and Matt Davidson starting at left field and designated hitter, respectively. Winker owns a career 137 wRC+ against righties compared to a 52 wRC+ against lefties, so expect him to continue to be platooned heavily this season.
Jul 10 2020Winker spent much of the shutdown in Cincinnati working on improving his footwork, in the hopes of bettering his defensive skills, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. "I was taking fly balls from DB and I just ran a ton," Winker said. "I think that was the best way to stay in shape for me, personally. Everything else -- throwing and hitting -- I've always trusted that would be there when it's time to go do that. Keeping my body in shape throughout this quarantine was my No. 1 priority." ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This is a variation on the "best shape of his life" report, but there's come confirmation from the team that Winker is in better physical shape than he was last season. He'll spend some time in the outfield, and some as the DH.
Jun 24 2020Winker has another avenue for playing time with the implementation of the universal DH for the 2020 season, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Neither Winker nor Nick Castellanos are considered good defensive outfielders, but both have sufficiently productive bats to try together them in the lineup more often. They are probably the two outfielders most likely to slot in as the DH. Winker still might sit frequently against left-handed pitching, however. In 147 major league plate appearances against lefties, Winker hit .176/.295/.248 with only two homers.
Mar 6 2020Winker (illness) is batting second as the designated hitter in Friday's Cactus League game against the A's. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 26-year-old was expected to serve as the designated hitter for Wednesday's contest before being scratched with the ailment, but he'll slot back into that role for Friday's matchup. Winker had an .830 OPS in 113 games last season and is competing for time in Cincinnati's crowded outfield following the offseason acquisitions of Nick Castellanos, Shogo Akiyama and Travis Jankowski (hamstring).
Mar 4 2020Winker won't play Wednesday in the Reds' 'B' game against the White Sox due to an illness, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Per Andy Masur of 720 WGN Chicago, Winker had been scheduled to serve as the Reds' designated hitter and leadoff man Wednesday before the ailment thwarted the plan. He'll likely only need a couple days off to recover from the illness.
Feb 28 2020Winker (wrist) is in the lineup for Friday's spring game against the A's, according to MLB.com. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker has not played since being hit by a pitch on the wrist Sunday, but he is ready to get back on the field after a few days of rest and recovery. Winker will be limited to DH duty Friday, but his presence in the lineup confirms he is not dealing with any sort of serious injury.
Feb 24 2020Winker said Monday that his wrist felt fine and that his X-rays came back negative, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker exited Sunday's Cactus League game after being hit by a pitch on his left wrist during the first inning, but the injury doesn't appear to be too severe. He had a bruise on his wrist, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him return to a full workload in the coming days.
Feb 23 2020Winker exited Sunday's Cactus League game against the White Sox after being hit by a pitch on the left wrist during the first inning, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker was immediately replaced by a pinch runner, though he indicated he was fine after exiting the contest. Regardless, it's worth keeping an eye on his availability in the coming days with spring training just getting started this weekend.
Feb 22 2020Winker (neck) is in the starting lineup for Sunday's spring opener against the White Sox, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Winker has been sidelined since late August due to a cervical strain, but he'll be ready to return to action for the Reds on Sunday. The 26-year-old saw consistent playing time in Cincinnati last season prior to his injury, but he could face competition heading into 2020 after the Reds acquired Nick Castellanos and Shogo Akiyama during the offseason.
Jan 27 2020Winker (neck) could face significant competition for playing time this season, following the Reds' signings of Nick Castellanos and Shogo Akiyama. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Right now Winker has to both prove that he's healthy and then beat out Akiyama or Nick Senzel for playing time, not to mention Aristides Aquino. At best, a platoon role seems most likely absent a trade and/or an injury.
Aug 28 2019Winker (neck) returned to Cincinnati on Wednesday to receive additional treatment for the cervical strain, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
Aug 22 2019Winker was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday due to a cervical strain, retroactive to Monday.
Aug 21 2019Winker (back) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Padres.
Aug 20 2019Winker (back) is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Padres.
Aug 19 2019Winker was unavailable for Monday's game against San Diego due to back soreness, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
Aug 18 2019Winker (back) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Aug 17 2019Winker is dealing with upper-back tightness, which is why he's sitting out Saturday, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. "I just woke up. I slept on it wrong," Winker said.
Aug 16 2019Winker is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Cardinals.
Aug 15 2019Winker is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cardinals.
Aug 11 2019Winker is not in Sunday's lineup against the Cubs.
Aug 8 2019Winker is not starting Thursday against the Cubs.
Aug 6 2019Winker is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Angels.
Aug 3 2019Winker is not starting Saturday against lefty Dallas Keuchel and the Braves.
Aug 1 2019Winker is not starting Thursday against the Braves.
Jul 28 2019Winker is out of the lineup for Sunday's game versus the Rockies, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.
Jul 28 2019Winker is out of the lineup for Sunday's game versus the Rockies, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 22 2019Winker is not in the lineup<\/a> Monday against Milwaukee.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 17 2019Winker is not in the lineup<\/a> Wednesday against the Cubs.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 16 2019Winker (side) went 1-for-1 with a single and a run scored in the Reds' 6-3 victory over the Cubs on Monday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 16 2019Winker (side) is back in the starting lineup Tuesday against the Cubs, batting leadoff.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 15 2019Winker (side) is available off the bench Monday, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 15 2019Winker (side) is out of the lineup<\/a> for Monday's game against the Cubs.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 14 2019Winker left Sunday's game against the Rockies in the middle of an at-bat after appearing to suffer an oblique or ribcage injury.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 14 2019Winker confirmed that his injury was to his lower left side or back, and that he'll be evaluated further Monday to determine whether he needs to go on the IL, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com<\/a> reports. \"My lower left back, side area tightened up,\" Winker said. \"I was feeling some tightness in my right rib cage as well.\"Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 13 2019Winker will sit against lefty Kyle Freeland<\/a> and the Rockies on Saturday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 4 2019Winker went 3-for-3 and scored the game's only run in Thursday's win over the Brewers.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 2 2019Winker is out of the lineup<\/a> for Tuesday's game against the Brewers.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 30 2019Winker is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 29 2019Winker is not in Saturday's lineup<\/a> against the Cubs.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 28 2019Winker is not in the lineup<\/a> for Friday's game versus the Cubs.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 25 2019Winker will be on the bench<\/a> against lefty Andrew Heaney and the Angels on Tuesday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 21 2019Winker is not in the lineup<\/a> for Friday's game against the Brewers.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 19 2019Winker will serve as the Reds' No. 2 hitter<\/a> and will start in left field Wednesday against the Astros.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 17 2019Winker will head to the bench<\/a> against lefty Wade Miley and the Astros on Monday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 16 2019Winker went 4-for-5 with a double, home run and five RBI in an 11-3 victory against the Rangers on Sunday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 15 2019Winker is on the bench<\/a> for the second straight game Saturday against the Rangers.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 14 2019Winker is not starting Friday<\/a> against Texas.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 6 2019Winker went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored Thursday against the Cardinals.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 4 2019Winker is not in the lineup<\/a> Tuesday against lefty Genesis Cabrera and the Cardinals.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 1 2019Winker grounded into two double plays in Saturday's loss to the Nationals, as the team hit into three double plays and left nine runners on base.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 31 2019Winker will sit Friday<\/a> against lefty Patrick Corbin and the Nationals.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 21 2019Winker is out of the lineup<\/a> for Tuesday's game against the Brewers.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 18 2019Winker went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a 4-0 victory over the Dodgers on Saturday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 18 2019Winker went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a 4-0 victory against the Dodgers on Saturday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 17 2019Winker will sit Friday<\/a> against lefty Rich Hill and the Dodgers.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 12 2019Winker is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 10 2019Winker (quadriceps) is back in the lineup<\/a> after missing two straight games Friday against the Giants.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 10 2019Winker (quadriceps) is back in the lineup<\/a> Friday against the Giants after missing two straight games.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 9 2019Winker remains out of the lineup<\/a> Thursday against the A's.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 9 2019Winker remains out of the lineup<\/a> Thursday against the Athletics.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 9 2019Winker is dealing with a left quadriceps injury but is expected to return to the lineup Friday against the Giants, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 8 2019Winker is not starting Wednesday<\/a> against lefty Brett Anderson and the Athletics.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 6 2019Winker is out of the lineup<\/a> for Monday's game against the Giants.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 25 2018Winker (shoulder) is not in Wednesday's lineup against the Cardinals, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.Winker has been day-to-day with shoulder soreness, and he'll miss his second straight game. The issue doesn't appear to be too serious, so the Reds are likely holding him out as a precaution. Adam Duvall will draw the start in left field with Winker riding the pine.
Jul 24 2018Winker is not starting Tuesday against the Cardinals.Winker will take a seat as the Reds take on the left-handed Austin Gomber. Phillip Ervin and Adam Duvall will start in the outfield corners.
Jul 24 2018Winker re-aggravated a shoulder injury Monday, Justin Williams of The Athletic Cincinnati reports.The injury explains Winker's absence from Tuesday's lineup. He reportedly picked it up in the ninth inning of Monday's game against the Cardinals when he hit the ground while running the bases. The Reds believe the injury to be nothing worse than soreness and don't expect him to miss significant time.
Jul 19 2018Winker should start every day in right field with Scott Schebler hitting the DL, MLB.com's Mark Sheldon reports.Winker has forced himself into the lineup frequently with a hot bat anyhow, but this takes the guesswork out of it. Over the last 30 games, Winker has hit .357/.476/.560 with four homers. He won't provide any speed, but he's one of three elite OBP sources in an improved Reds lineup.
Jul 11 2018Winker went 2-for-4 with a double and a two-run home run in Wednesday's 19-4 loss to Cleveland.The 24-year-old remains locked in at the plate. Over his last 20 games, he's hit a blistering .418 (23-for-55) with four homers, 20 RBI and a superb 15:9 BB:K. Winker remains stuck in a rotation in a crowded Reds outfield, but if he carries his current form into the second half he should force his way into a true starting job.
Jul 6 2018Winker is not starting Friday against the Cubs, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.Winker is hitting .458 with a 1.218 OPS over his last nine games, but the Reds' outfield rotation will continue, with Adam Duvall starting over him in left field. Winker has pretty much been as advertised this season, with excellent on-base skills but little power or speed, leading to a .277/.391/.403 line with six homers and no steals on the season.
Jul 5 2018Winker went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI in Wednesday's win over the White Sox.Winker provided a game-tying, two-run single in the fourth inning and then later came around to score in the frame as Cincinnati went ahead to stay. The 24-year-old had a productive June, slashing .308/.432/.513 in the month, and is following that up with a strong start to July as well. In four games in the month, he's hitting .556 (5-for-9) with two doubles, two walks, three RBI and three runs scored.
Jul 1 2018Winker is out of the lineup Sunday against the Brewers, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.After starting the first three games of the series, Winker will head to the bench in favor of Adam Duvall (left) and Scott Shebler (right). It's been a productive month of June for the 24-year-old outfielder, as Winker owns a .944 OPS with five home runs and 20 RBI.
Jun 28 2018Winker went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run Thursday against the Brewers.Winker's recent power surge continued Thursday, as he drove a Junior Guerra offering out to the opposite field for his sixth home run. Not known for his power, Winker now has three home runs in his past 21 at-bats. However, he is still slugging just .396 for the season with only 16 total extra-base hits in 266 plate appearances.
Jun 27 2018Winker is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Braves, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.Atlanta is bringing southpaw Sean Newcomb to the hill for the series finale, so the lefty-hitting Winker will take a seat, clearing a spot in the lineup for Adam Duvall. Winker is hitting just .188 against lefties this season, though he has reached base at a .350 clip in those matchups.
Jun 24 2018Winker will take a seat against southpaw Mike Montgomery and the Cubs on Sunday, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic Cincinnati reports.Winker is hitting a respectable .260/.375/.365 with four homers in 66 games, making him a fairly valuable hitter in OBP leagues and an unremarkable one everywhere else. Adam Duvall will get the start in left field Sunday, with Scott Schebler returning from the bereavement list to play right field.
Jun 21 2018Winker went 1-for-2 with a grand slam and a walk in Thursday's 6-2 win over the Cubs.The 24-year-old rookie has three home runs in June after hitting just one through the end of May. Winker is slashing .256/.367/.365 in 203 at-bats this season along with 34 walks and 34 strikeouts. That type of plate discipline for a young hitter with power is a terrific trait to have.
Jun 17 2018Winker is out of the lineup Sunday against the PIrates, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.Winker will head to the bench after starting in each of the Reds' past seven games, opening room in the lineup for Adam Duvall. With the Cincinnati 20 games under .500 entering play Sunday and seemingly prepared to give its younger players extra opportunities, the 24-year-old Winker seems likely to hold down a full-time role the rest of the season.
Jun 7 2018Winker went 3-for-3 with a walkoff two-run homer against the Rockies on Thursday.After replacing Adam Duvall, Winker produced a pair of singles in the eighth and 11th innings before ending things with a two-run shot off Chris Rusin in the bottom of the 13th. It was just his second home run of the season after he knocked seven in 47 games last year, but Winker is starting to find a groove at the plate, notching three multi-hit efforts in the last four games . He's now slashing .263/.368/.357 through 54 games this season.
Jun 6 2018Winker is starting in left field Wednesday and batting leadoff against the Rockies.Despite recent statements from interim manager Jim Riggleman that the Reds' four-man outfield rotation was ending, with Winker as the odd man out, Winker has now started the last three games and four of the last five. He continues to get on base at a decent clip (.352 OBP), albeit without any palpable power (.317 SLG).
Jun 6 2018Winker went 2-for-4 with a walk, a double and a run scored in Wednesday's 6-3 loss to the Rockies.The 24-year-old may be emerging from his slump, reaching base seven times in the last three games and picking up only his second extra-base hit in his last 16 contests. Winker's .250/.359/.327 slash line on the season is an accurate reflection of his fairly limited offensive skill set right now, and he'll need to rediscover the power stroke he teased in his big-league debut last year to become a useful fantasy asset in most formats.
May 30 2018The Reds' four-man outfield rotation has come to an end, with Winker moving to the bench on a regular basis, C.Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports. Winker entered Wednesday's play hitting .245/.354/.325.Interim manager Jim Riggleman believes that the rotation has hurt the offensive performances off all four Reds outfielders, and emphasized some of the previous offensive contributions of Adam Duvall and Scott Schebler as a rationale for choosing to play them over Winker. Duvall has been suggested as a trade target, but to have any leverage to trade him, the Reds need to play him and see him produce, so in the long run that still may be a path for Winker to gain playing time. Also in defense of the decision, Winker's power has once again disappeared - he has just one homer in 178 plate appearances this season.
May 26 2018Winker is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Rockies.The 24-year-old will take as seat as interim manager Jim Riggleman goes with Adam Duvall and Brandon Dixon in the outfield corners against lefty Tyler Anderson. Winker is just 4-for-32 against left-handed pitching so far this season.
May 24 2018Winker went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's win over the Pirates.The 24-year-old's shot to left-center field proved to be the difference in the Reds' 5-4 win. It was the first home run of the season for Winker after he hit seven homers in just 121 at-bats last year. There's probably more power to come, but Winker's not hitting for a high average nor is he playing everyday, making him tough to deploy in shallower mixed leagues.
May 20 2018Winker is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.After a 1-for-7 showing in Saturday's doubleheader, Winker is now batting just .154/.228/.192 for the month of May. His on-base percentage for the season still sits at a very respectable .346, but he's not hitting for any power at all. Winker will likely continue to find himself on the bench a couple times per week until he picks it up.
May 13 2018Winker is out of the lineup Sunday against the Dodgers.Winker will be the odd man out Sunday in the Reds' four-man outfield carousel, with the fact that the Dodgers are starting a left-handed pitcher in Rich Hill likely factoring heavily into interim manager Jim Riggleman's lineup decision. The 24-year-old is hitting .190/.346/.238 (75 wRC+) against southpaws this season.
May 1 2018Winker is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Brewers.Winker's absence from the lineup is baffling, as the Reds are facing a right-hander in Chase Anderson and Winker is batting .305 with a team-best .414 on-base percentage this season (yes, even better than Joey Votto's mark). Unfortunately, it seems interim manager Jim Riggleman will continue with this outfield rotation for the time being instead of seeing what Winker can do with everyday playing time.
Apr 26 2018Winker is out of the lineup Thursday against the Braves, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.Interim manager Jim Riggleman is stacking his starting nine with mostly right-handed bats to counter Atlanta lefty Sean Newcomb, resulting in lineup mainstays Winker and Scooter Gennett receiving the day off. Winker's move to the bench will open up a spot in the lineup for Billy Hamilton, who had sat out Wednesday as part of the Reds' four-man outfield rotation.
Apr 23 2018Winker is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Braves, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.Winker is in the midst of a four-game hitting streak, and he's now hitting a respectable .283/.433/.321 on the season, but he'll head to the bench for Monday's series opener against the Braves after starting each of the previous five games in the outfield. He should continue to see occasional days off with the Reds deploying a four-man outfield rotation consisting of Winker and Monday's starters, Scott Schebler, Billy Hamilton and Adam Duvall.
Apr 17 2018Winker (shoulder) is playing right field and hitting second Tuesday against the Brewers, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic Cincinnati reports.Winker was absent from the starting lineup the past four days, but he did manage to pinch-hit in Monday's contest. It seems like his shoulder is back to 100 percent, so he'll resume his normal position in the Reds' starting lineup, at least until Scott Schebler (elbow) is back in action.
Apr 17 2018Winker (shoulder) made a pinch-hit appearance against the Brewers on Monday, drawing a walk in the eighth inning.Winker has now missed four consecutive starts with a sore right shoulder and his status for Tuesday is uncertain, but the Reds' willingness to use him off the bench suggests he is not in imminent danger of landing on the DL. The 24-year-old hasn't done much of note so far this season, but he is getting on base at a .413 clip, so he should continue to see starts atop the order against right-handed pitching.
Apr 16 2018Winker (shoulder) is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Brewers.It will be Winker's fourth straight game out of the lineup with shoulder soreness, though with the Reds facing a lefty in Brent Suter, there's a chance he would have sat regardless of his shoulder issue. Phillip Ervin will again start in right field.
Apr 15 2018Winker (shoulder) is not in the lineup Sunday against the Cardinals.Winker's sore right shoulder continues to bother him, so he'll take a seat for a third consecutive game. He remains a day-to-day case moving forward. Phillip Ervin draws the start in right field, batting eighth in his stead.
Apr 14 2018Winker (shoulder) is not in the lineup against St. Louis on Saturday.Winker will remain on the bench for the second straight contest after being scratched from Friday's game due to right shoulder soreness. There hasn't been any word as to the severity of his injury, so consider the outfielder day-to-day for the time being. In his place, Phillip Ervin will man right field and bat seventh.
Apr 13 2018Winker was scratched from Friday's tilt with the Cardinals due to right shoulder soreness, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.Winker's removal from the lineup did wind up being injury-related, though it's unclear when it was incurred. Consider him day-to-day for now until a better timetable for his return is revealed. Phillip Ervin is filling in for him in right field Friday.
Apr 13 2018Winker was scratched from Friday's contest against the Cardinals, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.No word has come forth as to whether or not an injury is in play, though information on that should come forth relatively soon. Phillip Ervin will take his spot in right field for the evening.
Apr 10 2018Winker (illness) is leading off and playing right field Tuesday against the Phillies.Winker was held out of the starting nine Monday due to an illness, but he wound up making a pitch-hit appearance in the contest anyway. It seems like the day off was what he needed to get back to 100 percent, so he'll resume his expanded role in the Reds' outfield while Scott Schebler (elbow) is sidelined.
Apr 9 2018Winker is not in the lineup Monday against the Phillies.Winker projects to play nearly every day for the next week now that Scott Schebler (elbow) is on the disabled list, but the outfield prospect will take a seat for his first off-day since April 1. Phillip Ervin will take over in right field to replace him.
Apr 9 2018Winker is absent from the lineup Monday due to an illness, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic Cincinnati reports.It seemed strange that Winker would sit out given that a right-hander is throwing for Philadelphia and that Scott Schebler (elbow) is on the disabled list, but it appears that the sickness is to blame. The outfield prospect will likely need just a day or two to rest up before returning to the lineup, so consider him day-to-day for now. Phillip Ervin will move into the starting nine to replace him.
Apr 7 2018Winker went 1-for-2 with two walks, one run scored and one RBI Saturday against the Pirates.With Scott Schebler out, Winker has enjoyed regular playing time leading off and playing right field. He has been impressive, posting a .538 on-base percentage. He has still yet to hit an extra-base hit in 18 at-bats but has the potential to score plenty of runs with consistent playing time so long as Schebler remains out of the lineup.
Apr 6 2018Winker will return to the top of the Reds' order and play right field against Pittsburgh on Friday, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.Winker will hit out of the leadoff position for the fourth time this season, which is where he will typically be located when the club faces a right-hander. Expect to see Billy Hamilton hitting first versus southpaws. Through the first week of the year, Winker has gone 2-for-11 with five walks and five strikeouts.
Apr 1 2018Winker is out of the lineup Sunday against the Nationals.Winker started the first two games of the year for Cincinnati, one in left and another in right field. He'll take a seat for the series finale, however, giving way to an outfield composed of Adam Duvall (left), Billy Hamilton (center) and Scott Schebler (right).
Mar 30 2018Winker is leading off and playing left field for the Reds' opener against the Nationals on Friday.Winker led off eight times for the Reds last season. He doesn't possess much speed, but his .375 on-base percentage in 47 games for the Reds last season is ideal for a table-setter. It's a far better number than the .299 figure that the Reds' primary leadoff man, Billy Hamilton, posted last year. The Reds may rotate four outfielders (Winker, Hamilton, Adam Duvall and Scott Schebler) through three spots, so Winker may not play every day, but if he gets on base, expect him to stick in the leadoff role.
Mar 16 2018Winker went 3-for-4 with a double and four RBI in the Reds' 16-13 loss to the Brewers in Cactus League play Friday.The three-hit performance raised Winker's spring line to .406/.459/.656, with the outfielder contributing six extra-base knocks in 32 at-bats. Power wasn't a major component of Winker's game as he rose through the Reds' farm system, but the 24-year-old displayed more pop than expected during his multiple stints in the big leagues in 2017, homering seven times in just 137 plate appearances. With the organization viewing Winker as major-league ready, it's expected that he'll see at least semi-regular starts during the upcoming campaign while rotating in with established regulars in Scott Schebler, Adam Duvall and Billy Hamilton. Given Hamilton's questionable on-base skills, it wouldn't be an especially surprising development if manager Bryan Price eventually tabs Winker as the leadoff man for an extended period.
Feb 23 2018Manager Bryan Price said that Winker is a leadoff possibility when he's on the lineup card, John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.Earlier this week, Price said that the club views Winker as a "major-league ready player" and that they plan to use a four-man rotation in the outfield this season. He also stated that Billy Hamilton is the leadoff man "right now" which implies that Winker will see time at the top of the order only when Hamilton is out of the lineup. A lot can change over the course of spring camp, as this may be a situation to monitor heading into Opening Day.
Feb 19 2018The Reds view Winker as major-league ready and plan to use a four-man rotation in the outfield this season, the Cincinnati Enquirer's Zach Buchanan reports. "I believe he's a major-league-ready player," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "Some guys have to prove me wrong and others have to prove me right. I just really believe he is ready to get some regular playing time in the big leagues."Winker has strong on-base skills but had frustrated the Reds by his inability to hit for power in the high minors, but then slugged .487 in his brief big-league trial last season. The Reds had dabbled in trade talks regarding Billy Hamilton during the offseason but nothing came to fruition. That still could come back up midseason, opening the door for regular time for Winker.
Sep 22 2017Winker is not in the lineup against the Red Sox on Friday, MLB.com's Mark Sheldon reports.Winker will get the day off following six straight starts, including a 2-for-5 day at the plate, with a double, during Thursday's loss to St. Louis. In his place, Scott Schebler will take over in right for the series opener.
Sep 16 2017Winker went 1-for-4 with a solo homer Saturday against the Pirates.Winker broke open a scoreless tie in the seventh inning when he launched his sixth homer of the campaign off Ivan Nova to help lead the Reds to a home victory. Although he's launched a pair of homers over his last five games, he's collected just three hits during that span, and his low batting average is difficult to trade off for his power potential.
Sep 14 2017Winker went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 6-0 win over the Cardinals.His leadoff shot proved to be the only run the Reds pitching staff would need. After hitting only five home runs in 191 games for Triple-A Louisville over the last two seasons, Winker has now matched that total in his first 32 big-league games.
Sep 12 2017Winker (hip) was activated from the 10-day DL on Tuesday, Zach Buchanan of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.While it is obviously a small sample size, Winker has unquestionably improved his dynasty-league stock by hitting four home runs while slashing .297/.402/.500 in 87 MLB plate appearances after hitting just five home runs in 191 games at Triple-A over the last two seasons. He should get semi-regular work down the stretch as the Reds continue to evaluate their outfield situation for 2018.
Sep 12 2017Winker will start in right field and lead off Tuesday against the Cardinals.By successfully running the bases again Saturday, Winker passed the final test necessary to return from a hip injury. He will slot in atop the order in his first start back, as Scott Schebler moves to center to open a spot for Winker in right. This could be the new norm for Cincinnati with Billy Hamilton (thumb) on the DL. Winker has displayed strong plate skills and surprising pop during his time with the big club, and with regular playing time, he should be useful in most mixed leagues.
Sep 9 2017Winker (hip) ran the bases again Saturday, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. "Now we're just getting the sign off that he can re-enter as an active player," manager Bryan Price said.Winker remains on the disabled list, but it sounds like his return is imminent. With Billy Hamilton (thumb) on the DL and quite possibly out for the rest of the season, the door is open for Winker to see semi-regular playing time in the Reds' outfield. The 24-year-old has displayed a strong approach so far in the big leagues -- as he did in the minors -- batting .297/.402/.500 with a 13:15 BB:K in 87 plate appearances.
Aug 31 2017Reds manager Bryan Price said Wednesday that Winker (hip) is "still a ways" from resuming baseball activities, Andy Call of MLB.com reports.Price's comments all but ensure that Winker won't be activated from the 10-day disabled list when rosters expand Friday, and if his recovery from the hip flexor continues to proceed slowly, the young outfielder may not be cleared to play again this season. Though the 24-year-old has only had 87 plate appearances with the big club this season, he's impressed in limited action with a .297/.402/.500 line. Winker should have the opportunity to compete for a full-time role with the Reds in 2018 during spring training.
Aug 25 2017Winker was placed on the disabled list Friday with a strained left hip flexor.At this point in time, there's yet to be any information regarding the severity of Winker's injury. Although he's only played in 30 games with the big club, Winker has been effective when in the lineup this season. Over said outings he's put together a .297/.402/.500 line and mashed four home runs. In a corresponding move, Phillip Ervin was recalled from Triple-A Louisville.
Aug 19 2017Winker went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 5-3 win over the Braves.Scott Schebler's return from the DL will cut into Winker's playing time, but the rookie has done what he can to convince Reds manager Bryan Price that he deserves a regular spot in the starting lineup, posting a .298/.412/.474 slash line with three homers in 20 games since the All-Star break.
Aug 17 2017Winker is not in the Reds' lineup Thursday, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.With Jon Lester toeing the rubber for the Cubs, Winker will give way to Phillip Ervin in right field. Winker has acquitted himself well when in the lineup, though, knocking a .280/.357/.420 output across 56 plate appearances this month that includes his first two major-league home runs.
Aug 14 2017Winker is not in the lineup Monday against the Cubs.As per usual, Winker will head to the bench with the opposition sending out a southpaw starter (Jose Quintana). He's now started 11 of the last 14 games, with all three of his off days coming against left-handed pitchers. Patrick Kivlehan will start in right field in his stead.
Aug 9 2017Winker is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Padres.Patrick Kivlehan will take over in right field against lefty Travis Wood, pushing Winker to the bench following eight straight starts (all against right-handed pitching). Winker burst back onto the scene with homers in back-to-back games to begin August, but he's just 2-for-13 in his last four games. As a result of his recent skid, Winker has fallen to the bottom half of the batting order, but he should continue to play regularly, at least until Scott Schebler (shoulder) returns to action.
Aug 6 2017Winker will bat seventh and man right field Sunday against the Cardinals, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.Winker had previously occupied the two hole in each of his five starts prior to being recalled from Triple-A Louisville earlier in the week, but he'll likely have to settle for a spot in the bottom third of the order going forward following the activation of Zack Cozart (quadriceps) on Sunday. While the move down in the lineup may hurt Winker's run-scoring and run-producing opportunities, the fact that he's merely playing regularly is likely enough to make him worth keeping active in NL-only formats, and deeper mixed settings. Winker has gone 5-for-20 with a pair of home runs since returning from the minors.
Aug 2 2017Winker went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and a second run scored in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Pirates.After managing only five homers in 191 games with Triple-A Louisville over the last two seasons, Winker's now left the yard in back-to-back games with the Reds. The 23-year-old had shown modest power in the lower levels of the minors along with strong contact and plate discipline skills, but in all likelihood his line-drive swing won't produce too many more long balls in 2017.
Aug 1 2017Winker was recalled from Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.With a roster spot opening up following the trade of Tony Cingrani to the Dodgers, Winker will return to the majors in order to fill the void. The 23-year-old outfield prospect continues to flash excellent contact hitting in Triple-A as his .314 batting average and 85 percent contact rate suggest, but his power still hasn't developed, as he has just two home runs on the season for the Bats. Despite this, it wouldn't be too surprising to see him take over as the primary right fielder for the Reds soon given how poorly incumbent right fielder Scott Schebler has played as of late.
Aug 1 2017Winker will start in right field and bat second Tuesday against the Pirates, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.Winker, who was recalled from Triple-A Louisville earlier Tuesday, will spell Scott Schebler in the outfield for the series opener. Schebler is said to be healthy after recently battling a shoulder injury, but with a 4-for-52 (.077 average) showing at the plate since the All-Star break, his hold on an everyday role could be loosening. Moreover, manager Bryan Price indicated prior to Winker's promotion that he wanted to give the rookie "a real look" upon his return to the big leagues, according to Sheldon, as the Reds look to assess Winker's place in their long-term plans. The 23-year-old had seen sparse at-bats in his previous three stints with the big club this season, but it looks like his role could grow substantially this time around.
Jul 16 2017Winker will start in right field and bat second Sunday against the Nationals.With Scott Schebler receiving the day off, the Reds will take a look at the promising prospect in a prominent spot in the batting order. Winker hasn't received many opportunities to showcase his skills during his latest stint with the big club, going 0-for-3 in his five games since being promoted from Triple-A Louisville.
Jul 7 2017Winker was recalled from Triple-A Louisville on Friday, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.Winker continues to hit at every level, so he'll head to the majors to provide some outfield depth before the All-Star break. It'll be tough to get a ton of playing time given that Billy Hamilton, Adam Duvall and Scott Schebler are locked into starting roles, but he'll likely get plenty of opportunities off the bench. Sal Romano was sent back to the minors to make room on the active roster.
Jun 19 2017Winker was recalled from Triple-A Louisville on Monday.With Zack Cozart (quadriceps) and Bronson Arroyo (shoulder) both landing on the disabled list, the top prospect will make a return trip to the big leagues to help fill the void. Winker still hasn't shown much power in the minor leagues, compiling just two home runs in 64 games this season, but his .317 batting average and 33:32 K:BB in that span give him some appeal, especially in the hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park. It may be tough to get regular at-bats with Scott Schebler, Adam Duvall and Billy Hamilton occupying the outfield spots at the moment, but Winker could be a fixture in the lineup for the next three games with the Reds having the DH spot available for their series in Tampa Bay this week.
May 12 2017Winker enters play Friday hitting .271/.360/.318 with no homers and no stolen bases. His sort of offensive stat line at Triple-A is incredibly unique, Zach Buchanan from the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.As Buchanan elaborates, Winker's lack of slugging prowess is not ideal given that he's not a plus defender in the outfield either. The presumption going into this season was that Winker would ultimately supplant Scott Schebler in the outfield, but he doesn't appear especially close to that promotion.