LEADING OFF: Twins' Buxton, Reds' Votto added to IL

A look at what's happening around the majors Saturday:

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BAD LUCK BUX

Byron Buxton’s breakout season has been put on pause — a disappointing turn for the Minnesota Twins’ oft-injured center fielder. Buxton was added to the 10-day injured list Friday with a strained right hip.

The 27-year-old is hitting .370 with nine homers and five stolen bases and led the majors with 2.4 wins above replacement (per FanGraphs) before Friday's games — a hair ahead of Angels star Mike Trout. A Platinum Glove winner as the AL's best defender at any position in 2017, Buxton has played more than 100 games just once in his big league career.

Outfield prospect Trevor Larnach was called up from Triple-A.

VOTTO OUT

Reds first baseman Joey Votto could be sidelined for a month with a broken left thumb. Votto was added to the 10-day injured list Friday after being struck on the thumb with a pitch by Chicago’s Dallas Keuchel on Wednesday. Votto is not expected to need surgery, but the team expects him to be out at least three weeks and maybe more.

The 37-year-old is batting .226 with five homers and 17 RBIs. He batted .286 and hit his 300th career home run on Reds’ recently completed homestand.

PROTOCOL UPDATE

A fifth major league team has been able to relax coronavirus protocols after 85% of its players and other on-field personnel completed vaccination. MLB and the players association made the announcement Friday without identifying any teams and said seven additional teams had reached the 85% level of having received final doses and would be able to relax protocols within two weeks once they are fully vaccinated.

Relaxed protocols include dropping the requirements for facemasks in dugouts and bullpens, and loosening restrictions on mobility during road trips. MLB said Friday that more than...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/LEADING-OFF-Twins-Buxton-Reds-Votto-added-to-16161166.php