Friday, Cincinnati Reds shortstop Zack Cozart returned from the disabled list, collecting two hits in a win over the Chicago Cubs. Saturday, the 31-year-old was out of the lineup again.
His absence wasn’t unexpected. Cozart still isn’t back to 100 percent from the quad injury that cost him 12 days on the DL this month, and the Reds planned to sit him for Saturday’s 4:10 p.m. start in order to manage his health in the week heading into the All-Star Break.
“We'd love all these guys to be at 100 percent,” manager Bryan Price said, “But the price to pay for that may have been weeks, and that's something I don't think we can afford to do if our end goal, which I think should be for everyone, is to try and win as many games as we can here this season.