Votto (back) returns to the lineup Tuesday against Atlanta.

EDGE Analysis

Back tightness had kept the veteran out of the lineup for each of the last two games. He's back in the leadoff spot and playing first base.

Votto (back) remains out of the lineup Sunday against San Diego, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

Back tightness kept Votto out of the lineup Saturday, and he'll get at least two more days to rest with the Reds having an off day Monday. Kyle Farmer gets the call again at first base.

Votto is out of Saturday's lineup at San Diego due to back tightness, though he is still available to pinch hit, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

It's unclear how long Votto has been dealing with the injury, but the fact he's still available off the bench suggest it to be a minor issue. The Reds have a scheduled off day Monday, so it wouldn't be surprising for the team to remain cautious and hold the veteran first baseman out of the lineup for Sunday's series finale.

Votto is on the bench Saturday against San Diego.

EDGE Analysis

Votto sits for just the third time this season. The veteran owns a mediocre .227/.311/.409 line on the season, with an uncharacteristically poor 27 percent strikeout rate. Kyle Farmer gets the call at first base.

Votto popped out to the first baseman for the first time ever in a regular-season game in Wednesday's loss to the Dodgers, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The launch angle revolution has gone too far! Joking aside, this is the first time in 6,829 career plate appearances that Votto has popped out to first base.

Votto is batting leadoff in Tuesday's game against the Dodgers and Kenta Maeda, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

Votto has batted leadoff only one other time in his career, which is pretty weird when you think about his career-long strong on-base skills. He's off to a slow start this season, hitting .240/.333/.400 in 57 plate appearances.

Votto is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Dodgers.

EDGE Analysis

Votto will receive his second day off of the season after previously resting April 7 against the Pirates. Over his five starts since that time, Votto has gone 5-for-18 with four runs and an RBI. Kyle Farmer will swap in for Votto at first base as the Reds look to get another right-handed bat in the lineup to counter Dodgers southpaw Clayton Kershaw.

Votto is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

With no recent reports indicating that Votto is dealing with an injury, he's presumably just getting an early season breather in the series finale. After going 4-for-21 at the plate through the Reds' first six games, Votto's bat has woken up a bit in Pittsburgh the past two days, during which he's recorded a double and his first home run of the season. Derek Dietrich will fill in for Votto at first base for Sunday's matinee game.

Votto is hitting only .100/.438/.100 in 20 spring training at-bats so far. He doesn't have an extra-base hit yet, but has drawn 12 walks.

EDGE Analysis

It's one of the stranger spring training lines so far, but it comes with the caveat that it's been with a tiny sample, and at a time where Votto has been toying with his swing. It might raise a concern only because Votto is coming off a year where he didn't hit for power, but he's also traditionally a slow starter. There hasn't been any reported injuries this spring.

Votto spent the offseason analyzing his swing to find out why his power dropped off, and believes that the issue was mechanical and not a matter of physical strength, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. "I thought there was something in my swing, the angle as it came through the zone," Votto said. "A lot of my hard-hit balls were poorly directed. I think it was very much a mechanics thing and not a physical thing."

EDGE Analysis

Votto has a reputation for having a sterling work ethic and an ability to diagnose his swing issues. He's gotten off to slow starts in recent years and is redoubling his efforts to overcome that shortcoming. With an NFBC ADP of 73, he's as affordable as ever this season.