HOUSTON — What happens when Joey Votto comes back from the injured list Monday or Tuesday and the Cincinnati Reds can’t find a place in the lineup for the franchise icon?
That’s not going to happen, obviously. They’ll make room for the former MVP no matter which player goes to the bench from this young, relentless, athletic group that has done so much damage to other people’s pitching in recent weeks.
But the question speaks to the very real, very large question facing the suddenly relevant Reds these next few days — a question that could involve everything from painful demotions to possible trades as they shuffle a lineup that has been the most productive phase of their game over the past month.