CHICAGO - As the Cincinnati Reds opened an important division series against the first-place Chicago Cubs Friday, May 30, they lost one of their most productive hitters to the injured list again.
Left fielder Austin Hays, who fouled a pitch off his left foot Wednesday in Kansas City, landed on the IL for the third time already this season, this time for what's being called a bruised foot, pending more testing on the injured area.
Hays, who had been batting cleanup behind Elly De La Cruz, is hitting .303 with six home runs and 25 RBIs in 31 games this season.
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Hays opened the season on the IL because of a left calf strain suffered in his final spring game. Then he spent 10 days on the IL from April 29 through May 8 because of a left hamstring injury.
In other moves ahead of Friday's opener in Chicago, right fielder Jake Fraley (calf) was activated from the IL, and right-hander Lyon Richardson was recalled from Triple-A Louisville to join the bullpen.
Richardson was 0-1 with a 1.32 ERA in 10 games in his first appearance with the Reds.
Hard-throwing rookie reliever Luis Mey, who was 1-0 with a 4.15 ER in 14 games with the Reds, was optioned to Louisville during the Reds' scheduled off day Thursday.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Reds OF Austin Hays (bruised foot) lands on IL for 3rd time