The Cincinnati Reds finally have a sliver of good news in what’s been an up-and-down campaign. Catcher Tyler Stephenson, who’s been sidelined since mid-August with a fractured thumb, is on the verge of returning.
After getting through a simulated game with right-hander Chase Burns, himself recovering from a Grade 1 flexor strain, Stephenson is scheduled to began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday, September 3.
For a Reds team still hovering around .500 and clinging desperately to its Wild Card hopes, any reinforcement is welcome. Stephenson’s bat and presence behind the plate could give them a much-needed spark down the stretch, though the postseason math still isn’t in Cincinnati’s favor with just over 20 games remaining.