Reds Place 4 Players On Restricted List For Series In Toronto

The Cincinnati Reds are coming into Toronto on their best run of the season, winning 8 of their last 12 games. But they'll have to face the Blue Jays without four players, all placed on the restricted list, presumably because they're not vaccinated.

Reds place four on restricted list ahead of their series in Toronto:
• OF Albert Almora
• IF Brandon Drury
• P Joel Kuhnel
• P Tyler Mahle

— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) May 20, 2022

Players crossing the Canada-US border must be fully vaccinated or be forced into a 14-day quarantine upon entering the country.

Tyler Mahle started on Thursday, so he wouldn't be scheduled to pitch in the 3-game series at Rogers Centre (likely a scenario scheduled in advance, like the Seattle Mariners did right before them, to ensure unvaccinated Robbie Ray wouldn't be slated to pitch in Toronto.)

Drury has been a solid contributor for the Reds this season, with 7 home runs and 22 RBIs, but he'll miss the Toronto series, as well as his paycheck for those 3 days on the restricted list. He's also a former Blue Jay, having played there in 2019 and 2020. 

The others missing are little-used OF Albert Almora, as well as even less-used reliever Joel Kuhnel.

Their playing status, and their paychecks, will be active once again when the Reds play at home Monday. 

The good news is that Toronto-born Joey Votto will make his return to the Reds lineup at Rogers Centre. 

Photo Credit:  Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports