Reds 2B Mike Moustakas expected back for tomorrow’s doubleheader vs. Royals

Mike Moustakas has played in a grand total of 7 games for the Cincinnati Reds. If he were a member of the St. Louis Cardinals this year, that wouldn’t be much of an issue, but the fact is the newly minted Cincinnati 2B has been sidelined for the bulk of the Reds campaign this year.

Of course, the Reds themselves have been sidelined since Friday’s news of a postive COVID-19 test from one of their players, and while that’s been disconcerting on a number of levels, a byproduct of that pause in the schedule might actually end up working their way. With the games against Pittsburgh postponed and today’s scheduled game against the Kansas City Royals moved to a doubleheader tomorrow, that marked a trio of games that Moustakas would have otherwise missed that the Reds didn’t actually have to play without him. And as The Athletic’s C. Trent Rosecrans relayed on Tuesday afternoon, Moose should be back for the Reds next contest.

Moustakas has been out with a quad strain, something he somewhat mysteriously picked up. Now, he’ll get the chance to return to play while in a stadium that he knows quite well, as the former Royal has bonked 59 career dingers in Kauffman Stadium.

It should be a boon for a Reds offense that has been streaky, at best, for much of the season, one that might well be without another otherwise key member depending on how the COVID positive test results (and fallout) shake out. Between his injury, the repeated absences of several players after self-reporting what might have been COVID symptoms, and the slump of Eugenio Suarez, this Reds offense - one we thought would be a strength after the winter additions - simply hasn’t gotten rolling consistently just yet, and not having Moose’s lefty bat in the thick of it has certainly contributed to that issue.

With a stretch of 17 games in 15 days between now and their next scheduled off-day, it’s vital that they’ll now have one of their top bats back in the lineup.