Reds Place Suárez on 10-Day IL with Oblique Strain

The Cincinnati Reds placed veteran designated hitter Eugenio Suárez on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a mild left oblique strain, retroactive to Thursday, sidelining the 34-year-old slugger after he felt discomfort during batting practice the previous day.

Suárez was scratched from Friday's lineup about an hour before the series opener against the Detroit Tigers when pain developed in his left side on his final swing. An MRI confirmed the low-grade injury. Reds manager Terry Francona described it as minor and expressed optimism for a quick recovery. "The hope is after possibly five or six days, if symptoms are gone, we'll get him imaged again," Francona said. "Then we'll start to build him back up." The placement means Suárez could return as early as May 3 if he progresses well, though oblique strains can sometimes linger for hitters.

In a corresponding move, the Reds recalled outfielder J.J. Bleday from Triple-A Louisville, where the 28-year-old was batting .341 with six home runs and 19 RBIs in 24 games. Bleday, who nearly secured a spot on the Opening Day roster after hitting .317 with four homers in spring training, has limited major league success, posting a .215...