Winker hopes Cincinnati is rocking as he returns to lineup for big series

Dodgers will throw three of baseball’s best pitchers in Cincinnati

Jesse Winker decided at 3 p.m. Thursday while taking batting practice with the Triple-A Louisville Bats to cut short his rehab stint and return to the Cincinnati Reds.

That meant driving from Memphis, where the Bats were playing, to Cincinnati, where the Reds started a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night. He learned he could get back faster driving than flying because there wasn’t a direct flight. Fortunately, he had help. CJ Gillman, the Reds’ minor league hitting coordinator, drove him back to Ohio.

The Reds activated Winker, who missed 28 games with an intercostal strain, on Friday, and he started in center field and hit second.

“I love this team,” Winker said before the game. “I love this town. I don’t know how many times you’re going to get the opportunity to be one game back in the wild card with a weekend series at home against the Dodgers in September.”

Winker, who started the All-Star Game in July, last played Aug. 15 and was placed on the injured list Aug. 16. At the time, he was hitting .307 with 24 home runs and 71 RBIs.

“(Winker’s) a huge part of our team,” manager David Bell said. “He’s having a great season. He’s a big part of our clubhouse on and off the field. Clearly, it’s great to have him back in the lineup. He’s a great player and a big part of our success to this point, so it’s great to see him.”

The Reds were 64-55 when Winker was injured. They were 12-16 when he was on the injured list. With 15 games to play, they trailed the St. Louis Cardinals by one game and the San Diego Padres by a half game in the wild-card race.

Winker made two appearances with the Bats on Tuesday and Wednesday and went 0-for-5. He looked at the situation during his rehab stint and realized there wasn’t much time left in the season. He didn’t know how much more time he needed.

In the end, Winker felt good enough to return, though he will do so against the team with the best ERA (2.94) in baseball. The Dodgers will pitch Walker Buehler (14-3, 2.32), Max Scherzer (14-4, 2.17) and Clayton Kershaw (9-7, 3.33) against the Reds. Scherzer and Buehler rank first and third in baseball in ERA. Scherzer and Kershaw are each three-time Cy Young Award winners.

“I’m excited,” Winker said. “They’re a great team. They’re great pitchers. I don’t have to sit here and say that. We all know who they are, their careers, the years they’re all having, the milestones they’ve set. They all speak for themselves. It’s a Cy Young candidate and then two hall of famers. But I like our lineup. I like the guys we’ve got going against them. We’re really excited. I hope the city is excited. I really hope this place is going to be rocking.”

FRIDAY’S GAME

Dodgers at Reds, 7:10 p.m., Bally Sports Ohio, 700, 1410

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