WILL BENSON NEWS

Not starting against lefty Benson is out of the lineup Friday against the Mets.

Impact Left-hander David Peterson will toe the slab for New York on Friday, so the lefty-hitting Benson will head to the bench. TJ Friedl, Harrison Bader and Hunter Renfroe will serve as the Reds' starting outfielders.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting out against southpaw Benson is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers.

Impact The Reds are facing a lefty for the second day in a row and Benson has been absent from the lineup both times. He did receive two plate appearances off the bench Tuesday, so perhaps he'll make another mid-game appearance Wednesday.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

On bench versus lefty Benson is out of the lineup Tuesday against the Tigers.

Impact Benson went 3-for-4 with a homer and a double in Sunday's series finale against the Cardinals, but he'll ride the pine in Tuesday's series opener at Detroit with left-hander Joey Wentz on the bump. Benson, 25, has batted just .152/.222/.212 in 36 plate appearances versus lefties this year.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Has three-hit day in win Benson went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and a double in Sunday's win over the Cardinals.

Impact Benson recorded his second three-hit effort over his last four games and reached the double-digit home run mark with a solo blast in the third. His recent surge at the plate has him at 9 hits in 10 games this month, although he's started just six of those 10 games, as he continues to sit against lefties. The 25-year-old has put together a nice season during his first year in Cincinnati, slashing .273/.369/.502 with 10 homers, 27 RBI, 45 runs and a 37:89 BB:K in 287 plate appearances.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting against lefty Benson isn't in the Reds' lineup Saturday against the Cardinals.

Impact Southpaw Zack Thompson is set to start on the mound for St. Louis, so the lefty-hitting Benson will retreat to the dugout to begin Saturday's game. Nick Senzel, Harrison Bader and TJ Friedl will make up the Reds' outfield while Benson sits.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

On bench Friday Benson is absent from the lineup Friday versus the Cardinals.

Impact Benson went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a homer and a stolen base in Wednesday's series finale against the Mariners, but the Reds will go righty-heavy Friday as they match up against Cardinals lefty Drew Rom. Benson has batted .156/.229/.219 in 35 plate appearances this year versus southpaws.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Offensive star in loss Benson went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a solo home run, an additional run scored and a stolen base in Wednesday's 8-4 loss to Seattle.

Impact Benson's had a rough go at the plate of late, as he entered Wednesday's game on a 4-for-29 (.138) run over the last 11 games. The outfielder is batting .269/.366/.488 with 14 doubles, six triples, nine homers, 26 RBI and 15 steals over 90 games this season.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not starting Saturday Benson isn't in the Reds' lineup Saturday against the Cubs.

Impact Benson is just 2-for-19 across his last seven games, so he'll get a day off to regroup Saturday. Nick Martini, TJ Friedl and Hunter Renfroe will make up Cincinnati's outfield while Benson rests.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting out first game Benson is not in the lineup for the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the Cubs.

Impact Southpaw Jordan Wicks is on the hill for the Cubs, so Benson will take a seat. Newcomer Hunter Renfroe is in right field for the Reds.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Will not start Monday Benson is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Giants.

Impact Benson will get a breather after starting seven straight games in the outfield. Nick Senzel will get a chance to start Benson opening Monday's contest on the bench.

AUGUST 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Blasts grand slam in loss Benson went 1-for-3 with a grand slam and a walk in Friday's 10-8 loss to the Diamondbacks.

Impact Benson snapped a month-long homer drought with his ninth-inning slam, which got the Reds within two runs but no closer. During the 22-game power drought, he hit .250 with just one RBI, six extra-base hits and four stolen bases. The outfielder is up to eight long balls, 24 RBI, 39 runs scored, 14 thefts and a .278/.379/.502 slash line over 243 plate appearances this season.

AUGUST 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Notches 14th steal Benson went 2-for-4 with a stolen base and two runs scored in a 7-3 win over the Angels in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader.

Impact Benson entered Wednesday 1-for-10 across his last four games before going 3-for-8 with three runs across the twin bill. The outfielder is at a .281/.381/.498 slash line with 14 thefts, seven home runs, 20 RBI and 38 runs scored across 76 contests this season. Benson has a clear path to playing time in right field with Jake Fraley (toe) and Stuart Fairchild (concussion) out, though Fraley could be back in early September, at which point Benson would likely move to left field.

AUGUST 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Idle versus lefty Benson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.

Impact The lefty-hitting Benson will take a seat for the series finale while Toronto brings southpaw Hyun Jin Ryu to the hill. With Benson on the bench, Spencer Steer will pick up a start in left while TJ Friedl and Stuart Fairchild round out the Cincinnati outfield.

AUGUST 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Gets day off versus lefty Benson is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Guardians.

Impact Benson will join fellow lefty hitter Joey Votto on the bench Tuesday while the Guardians bring southpaw Logan Allen to the hill. Though he's coming off a productive weekend in Pittsburgh in which he went 5-for-9 with two walks, four runs and a stolen base, Benson will cede his spot in the outfield to TJ Hopkins in the series opener with Cleveland.

AUGUST 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Hits in three straight since return Benson went a combined 2-for-5 with two walks, a triple, a stolen base and two runs scored in Sunday's doubleheader split with Pittsburgh.

Impact Benson has hit safely in three straight games since returning from a bout of back stiffness Friday. The steal was his 12th in 69 games and fifth (six attempts) in 25 games since the All-Star break.

AUGUST 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to lineup Benson (back) is starting in right field and batting eight Friday against the Pirates.

Impact Back stiffness kept Benson out of the Reds' last game against the Marlins, but he will return to the lineup after getting an extra day to recover Thursday. The 25-year-old outfielder is currently 2-for-14 with nine strikeouts and a run scored since the beginning of August.

AUGUST 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Nursing back stiffness Benson is not in the Reds' lineup Wednesday due to back stiffness, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Impact It explains why he's not playing for a second straight day and this time against a right-hander. Benson is expected to be fine, so there would seem to be a good chance he's ready to roll for the weekend series in Pittsburgh following Thursday's off day.

AUGUST 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Absent from lineup Benson is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Marlins.

Impact Benson didn't start Tuesday against a lefty and is now on the bench for this one versus right-hander Johnny Cueto. Spencer Steer and Stuart Fairchild will handle the corner outfield spots for the Reds on Wednesday.

AUGUST 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

On bench versus lefty Benson is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Marlins.

Impact Spencer Steer, TJ Friedl and Stuart Fairchild will start across the outfield for the Reds as they take on left-hander Braxton Garrett. The left-handed-hitting Benson has slashed just .053/.143/.158 in 21 plate appearances versus southpaws this year.

AUGUST 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sits down Friday Benson isn't in the Reds' lineup Friday against the Nationals.

Impact After going 4-for-11 with an RBI and a run scored during Cincinnati's last series against the Cubs, Benson will catch a breather to begin the weekend series. Spencer Steer, Stuart Fairchild and Nick Senzel will man the Reds' outfield from left to right Friday.

AUGUST 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Out of Saturday's lineup Benson is not in Saturday's lineup against the Dodgers.

Impact He will get a rare day off against a righty (Emmet Sheehan), which allows Spencer Steer to move to left field and for Joey Votto and Christian Encarnacion-Strand to handle the first base and designated hitter duties, respectively. Benson is hitting .241 with three home runs, two steals and 16 strikeouts (47.1 K%) in his last 10 games.

JULY 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Cracks third homer since break Benson went 1-for-3 with a walk and a two-run home run in Tuesday's 4-3 win over Milwaukee.

Impact Benson's home run in the top of the ninth inning gave Cincinnati two insurance runs, which it needed, as the bullpen gave up three runs in the bottom half of the frame. The home run was the seventh for Benson with three of those long balls coming over the last seven games.

JULY 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Reaches double-digit steals Benson went 1-for-3 with a stolen base in Monday's 3-2 loss to the Brewers.

Impact Benson returned to the lineup after getting a day off and stole his 10th base of the season. The outfielder has swiped three in the last nine games. Benson regularly reached double-digit thefts in the minors and has a combined 21 steals between Cincinnati and Triple-A Louisville in 2023.

JULY 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Gets Sunday off Benson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Impact Benson will take a seat for the first time since July 9, breaking a streak of nine consecutive starts. Even with the recent arrival of power-hitting prospect Christian Encarnacion-Strand in the big leagues, Benson doesn't look as though he'll lose out on his everyday role in the outfield. Since June 1, Benson owns a 179 wRC+, placing him sixth among all hitters in the majors with at least 100 plate appearances during that time.

JULY 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Involved in win Benson went 2-for-3 with a walk, two doubles, an RBI and a stolen base in Thursday's 5-1 win over San Francisco.

Impact Benson walked ahead of Luke Maile's two-run home run in the third then doubled in a run and scored an inning later. His sixth-inning stolen base did not impact the game, but it was the outfielder's ninth of the season and fifth in the last 17 games. Benson has been prominent in the last contests for the Reds, going 4-for-10 with two doubles, two home runs and six RBI.

JULY 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE