Candelario (back) said Thursday that there's no set rehab plan or timeline for his return, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Candelario landed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a lumbar spine strain and it sounds like it could be a lengthy absence for the veteran infielder. The switch hitter had seen his playing time dip prior to the injury and is sporting a lowly .113/.198/.213 batting line over 91 plate appearances this season.

The Reds placed Candelario on the 10-day injured list Wednesday due to a lumbar spine strain.

EDGE Analysis

Candelario informed the Reds earlier this week that he was dealing with a lower-back issue, and the 31-year-old corner infielder was diagnosed with a strain after being sent in for further evaluation. Even before the injury surfaced, Candelario had played himself out of an everyday role, slashing just .113/.198/.213 over 91 plate appearances. Cincinnati recalled infielder Tyler Callihan to replace Candelario on the 26-man active roster.

Manager Terry Francona said Tuesday that Candelario alerted the Reds about a lower back issue, and the team is having it looked at, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Francona had already said earlier in the day that Candelario's role was going to be reduced, but the back issue could help explain the veteran infielder's early-season struggles at the plate. Through 91 plate appearances, Candelario is slashing .113/.198/.213 with four extra-base hits, 10 RBI and a 9:29 BB:K. Consider the 31-year-old day-to-day for now.

Cincinnati manager Terry Francona spoke to Candelario on Monday about a reduced role due to an early-season slump, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. "We tried to explain to him, too, that you can't chase hits. That's a hard way to play," Francona said.

EDGE Analysis

This move was a long time coming and forecasted over the last week. Candelario, who is batting .113 with a .411 OPS over 22 games, managed to avoid being benched earlier while the Reds navigated injuries. Now that the roster is in better shape -- Spencer Steer is back playing the field following a bout of shoulder inflammation, Noelvi Marte is ripping it up since his promotion, and Gavin Lux no longer needs to cover left field since Austin Hays was activated off the injured list -- Candelario will have to take advantage opportunities when presented to him to climb back into a rotation at first base, third base or DH.

Candelario is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Marlins.

EDGE Analysis

Candelario isn't starting for the second straight day, as the Reds are running it back with Spencer Steer at first base and Noelvi Marte at third against Max Meyer after Cincinnati hung 24 runs on the Orioles in Sunday's win. Candelario is slashing just .125/.263/.375 over the last seven days.

Candelario is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.

EDGE Analysis

Candelario has a double and a homer in his past two games, but he has only one other hit in his last 11 contests. Spencer Steer is starting at first base for the first time this season after playing through a shoulder issue to start the year.

Candelario went 1-for-5 with a solo homer in Friday's 8-3 win over Baltimore.

EDGE Analysis

Candelario gave the Reds a three-run lead in the fourth inning, when he took a 91 mph fastball from Cade Povich deep to center field for a 415-foot solo shot. Candelario has a .447 OPS across 74 plate appearances this season, but Friday's homer may be a sign of things to come for the 31-year-old.

Candelario started at first base and went 0-for-4 with a walk and a run scored in Thursday's 11-7 loss to the Mariners.

EDGE Analysis

Candelario, who has one hit in his last 32 at-bats and is batting .117, has managed to get regular opportunities all season thanks to injuries. His 60 at-bats rank fourth on the team. Just as the Reds got healthy and it looked like Candelario would lose playing time, the team placed first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand (back) on the 10-day injured list Thursday. With Spencer Steer's shoulder limiting him to designated hitter, Candelario could be the primary first baseman while Encarnacion-Strand is out.

Candelario is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mariners.

EDGE Analysis

After Austin Hays (calf) and Matt McLain (hamstring) were reinstated from the injured list Tuesday, the Reds are at full strength in the infield and outfield for the first time all season. Though he picked up a start at designated hitter in Tuesday's 8-4 win while Spencer Steer rested, Candelario will be the odd man out of the lineup Wednesday while Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Gavin Lux occupy the two corner-infield spots. While Candelario should retain a regular spot in the lineup versus left-handed pitching, he could be subject to more of a part-time role against righties now that Cincinnati has more appealing options to fill out the lineup with the returns of Hays and McLain. Candelario has yet to get going at the plate this season, slashing .125/.219/.196 with a 31.2 percent strikeout rate over 64 plate appearances.

Candelario started at first base and went 0-for-4 in Sunday's 4-0 win over the Pirates.

EDGE Analysis

Candelario made a second straight start at first base with Christian Encarnacion-Strand unavailable due to back and hamstring injuries. Unfortunately for Candelario and the Reds, he's 1-for-25 over the last seven games.