Reds get another key player back from injured list

Mike Moustakas hasn’t played for Reds since May 18
Cincinnati Reds' Mike Moustakas (9) is greeted by Nick Castellanos (2) and Jesse Winker after they all scored on a double by Eugenio Suarez off Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Duane Underwood Jr. during the tenth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, May 12, 2021.(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Credit: Gene J. Puskar

Credit: Gene J. Puskar

Cincinnati Reds' Mike Moustakas (9) is greeted by Nick Castellanos (2) and Jesse Winker after they all scored on a double by Eugenio Suarez off Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Duane Underwood Jr. during the tenth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, May 12, 2021.(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Mike Moustakas will make his first appearance for the Cincinnati Reds since May 18 on Friday in the second game of a four-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park.

» ASK HAL: Where will Moustakas play when he returns?

Moustakas returned from the injured list and will start at third base and hit fifth. He has been on the injured list since May 20 with a right heel injury. He’s hitting .241 with four home runs and 13 RBIs in 28 games.

Moustakas was on track to return in mid-June but suffered a setback during a rehabilitation assignment with the Triple-A Louisville Bats.

Moustakas returns one day after Nick Castellanos came off the injured list. To make room for him on the roster, the Reds optioned infielder Mike Freeman to Louisville.

Moustakas replaces Eugenio Suarez at third base. Suarez had started all but one game at third since the All-Star break.

The Reds enter Friday’s game with their best record (58-51) of the season. They trail the San Diego Padres (62-48) by 3½ games in the race for the second wild card.

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