Sports

Joey Votto targets return to Reds lineup and Toronto on Friday

Toronto native Joey Votto is aware of precisely what sights he desires to see when he returns to his hometown.

“I would prefer to see the centre of the baseball. And elements of town? Someplace round home windows? Possibly the second deck? We’ll see, possibly someplace round there,” mentioned Votto, tongue firmly planted in cheek.

“That is what I am concentrating on. That is what I am most wanting ahead to.”

Votto has been out of the Cincinnati Reds‘ lineup for greater than two weeks with COVID-19. He expects he’ll be again with the Reds on Friday, in time for Cincinnati’s three-game interleague sequence in Toronto.

The six-time All-Star was not taking part in as much as his regular requirements when he began displaying signs of the virus on Might 3, forward of a sport in opposition to the Milwaukee Brewers. He is hitting simply .122 with no house runs and three runs batted in over 22 video games this season.

Votto mentioned Wednesday that getting back from the injured record in his hometown after finishing a rehab project with the Class A Dayton Dragons was simply good timing.

“I’ve carried out so poorly to start out the season it is not one thing I am snug with or used to,” mentioned Votto by way of Zoom from Dayton, Ohio. “Getting back from being on the sofa or in mattress for eight or 9 days, I must ensure that I am in a great way bodily or I danger harm or I danger poor efficiency.

“So I’ve to return again and carry out properly, and whether or not Toronto was backed up in opposition to that date eight or 9 days or now and even additional down the road, it would not have made a distinction.”

Votto performed in 4 video games for the Dragons as he labored himself again into sport form. He noticed no motive why he would not be able to play for the Reds (10-26) in Toronto.

“I imply, something can occur, however nothing involves thoughts that can hold me from from being on Friday,” mentioned Votto. “I really feel properly, I have been competing properly.”

After a disappointing 2-7 street journey, the Blue Jays (20-18) have been benefitting from the pleasant confines of Rogers Centre this week.

Toronto took two of three video games from the visiting Seattle Mariners backed by stable begins from pitchers Yusei Kikuchi and José Berríos on Monday and Tuesday respectively. Alek Manoah additionally had a robust begin on Sunday in a 3-0 loss in Tampa Bay to shut out the Blue Jays’ street journey.

Toronto common supervisor Ross Atkins mentioned his beginning rotation has been performing as he hoped when he signed Kikuchi and Kevin Gausman within the low season.

“It retains you in each sport as we have been in each sport — possibly one or two that you could say we weren’t — however looks like we have been in completely each single one in all them and that begins with beginning pitching,” mentioned Atkins. “That does take some stress off the bullpen as properly.”

Toronto’s pitching may thrive in opposition to Cincinnati, which has the second-worst run differential in Main League Baseball with minus-64 and sits final within the Nationwide League Central Division.

Hyun-jin Ryu (0-0) is scheduled to get the beginning for the Blue Jays on Friday and Luis Castillo (0-1) will take the mound for the Reds.

This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Might 19, 2022.

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press

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