Winker is dealing with upper-back tightness, which is why he's sitting out Saturday, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. "I just woke up. I slept on it wrong," Winker said. "That's when I first started feeling it. Then it progressively got worse. Just a little back spasm. Unfortunately, it happened, but I should be all right. Hopefully I will start to feel better by the end of today or start feeling better tomorrow."

EDGE Analysis

Winker went on to say that the issue bothers him both when throwing and hitting. It's noteworthy and a bit cryptic that manager David Bell said that the back issue isn't why Winker didn't play Friday. "It's not why [Winker] didn't play last night," Bell said. "But it was a bigger reason why he's not playing today."

Winker is not in Saturday's lineup against the Cardinals.

EDGE Analysis

The Reds are starting Phillip Ervin in left field, even against a righty (Miles Mikolas). Winker is hitting .281 with one home run in 32 at-bats this month but has not played since Wednesday.

Winker is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Cardinals.

EDGE Analysis

Winker typically takes a seat when the Reds face a southpaw, but Friday is the second straight contest in which he's out versus a right-hander (Adam Wainwright). The 25-year-old has a .943 OPS since the All-Star break, so it seems unlikely he's being bumped from the starting role. Phillip Ervin receives another start in left field in Winker's place.

Winker is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cardinals.

EDGE Analysis

Winker's absence from the lineup registers as a surprise, given that the Reds are opposing a right-handed starter (Michael Wacha) in the series opener. Perhaps manager David Bell is just eager to take a look at Phillip Ervin, who has had a tough time finding at-bats lately with Aristides Aquino emerging as a regular in the outfield and josh VanMeter also jockeying for playing time in left field. Winker has been excellent since the All-Star break with a .943 OPS, but the production hasn't come with much in the way of fantasy-friendly counting stats. He's tallied three home runs, 12 RBI, 13 runs and no stolen bases in 32 second-half games.

Winker is not in Sunday's lineup against the Cubs.

EDGE Analysis

He will take a seat against a lefty (Jon Lester) in the final game of this series. Phillip Ervin will start in left field and hit sixth.

Winker is not starting Thursday against the Cubs.

EDGE Analysis

Winker will give way to Phillip Ervin in left field for Thursday's series opener against the Cubs with left-hander Cole Hamels toeing the rubber for Chicago. Look for the outfielder, who is slashing .368/.442/.553 with two home runs and six RBI over his past 15 appearances, to rejoin the lineup against righty Yu Darvish on Friday.

Winker is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Angels.

EDGE Analysis

Winker started in Monday's series-opening 7-4 victory, even though the Angels deployed a lefty (Patrick Sandoval) as their primary pitcher. Though Winker acquitted himself well in the contest by recording a base hit and a walk in his two plate appearances, he'll retreat to the bench as he usually does versus lefties with another southpaw (Jose Suarez) on the bump for the Angels on Tuesday. Phillip Ervin will spell Winker in left field.

Winker is not starting Saturday against lefty Dallas Keuchel and the Braves.

EDGE Analysis

Winker hasn't started against a lefty since late May. The arrangement makes sense, as he has dramatic platoon splits, hitting .177/.287/.250 against lefties over the course of his career and .307/.395/.510 against righties. Phillip Ervin and Aristides Aquino will be the corner outfielders in his absence.

Winker is not starting Thursday against the Braves.

EDGE Analysis

Winker has started the past three games, going 7-for-12 (.583) with a homer and five runs scored, but he'll head to the bench for Thursday's series opener with lefty Max Fried starting for Atlanta. In his place, Aristides Aquino is starting in right field and hitting sixth.

Winker is out of the lineup for Sunday's game versus the Rockies, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Winker started the last four contests and has an .883 OPS over 21 games in July, but he'll take a seat for the series finale. Josh VanMeter will start in left field and bat fifth in his stead.