Votto is being held out of the Reds' lineup Friday due to a stiff neck, C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

It appeared that Votto was getting a routine day off when he was not included in Friday's lineup, but now it's clear he is actually sitting out due to a minor injury. Votto is considered day-to-day with his setback, so he should have a chance to return to the lineup as soon as Saturday.

Votto is out of the lineup Friday against the Cardinals.

EDGE Analysis

He has started the last nine games, hitting .343/.400/.629 over that stretch, and the Reds will opt to give him a day off Friday. Despite playing on one of the worst teams in baseball, Votto is still putting up his typically eye-popping numbers, and remains one of the top first basemen in fantasy, especially in OBP and points leagues. Ivan De Jesus will start at first base and hit eighth Friday.

Votto went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in Monday's 9-2 loss to the Angels.

EDGE Analysis

Votto opened the scoring in the top of the first, but that was all the offense Cincinnati would muster against Matt Shoemaker. The veteran first baseman has been remarkable consistent with at least 22 homers in seven of the past nine years. He's as locked in as any player in baseball with 15 RBI in his last 10 games.

Votto went 2-for-3 with two RBI in Tuesday's win over the Rangers.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran slugger has picked his game up over the past week, going 9-for-15 (.600) with multi-hit games in each of his last four starts. Votto had just 22 RBI for all of June and July combined, before busting out for 22 so far in August alone. He's got himself back on pace to challenge the 100 RBI mark, a feat Votto hasn't accomplished since 2011.

Votto continued his assault on pitchers this month, going 3-for-6 with four RBI and two runs scored on Monday against the Dodgers.

EDGE Analysis

Votto has been impossibly hot at the plate since the All-Star break, hitting an even .450. Despite his incredibly sluggish start to the season, Votto should now challenge his 80 RBI and .314 average from a season ago. The Reds' first baseman has been remarkably consistent over his career, and this season is proving to be no different.

Votto is out of the lineup for Sunday's outing against the Dodgers, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Votto went 2-for-3 with a run and RBI on Saturday, but will give way to Ivan De Jesus at first base Sunday. Votto, who's hitting .409/.517/.727 with two home runs over the last seven games, will likely return to the lineup Monday for the Reds' series finale against Los Angeles.

Votto went 2-for-3 with a three-run homer, four overall RBI, two runs and a walk in Friday's 9-2 victory over the Dodgers.

EDGE Analysis

He jump-started matters in the first inning by smacking his 20th homer of the season, a 408-foot shot to center that plated Billy Hamilton and Ivan De Jesus, Jr. He drove in his fourth run of the day in the fourth with a bases-loaded walk in the fourth inning. Votto's amazing resurgence, which has primarily unfolded in the second half, has seen him slash .413/.549/.627 in July and an even better .417/.500/.650 to date in August, raising his season average a whopping 49 points since July 1.

Votto went 2-for-4 with a double, a homer and three RBI Sunday against the Brewers.

EDGE Analysis

Votto had been going through a power outage, and this was the first time he's left the yard since July 26. Despite playing on a team in a rebuilding phase, he's already driven in 62 runs, and it's quite possible he posts his highest numbers in that category since 2011.

Votto went 4-for-5 with two RBI and a run in the Reds 11-5 victory over the Brewers on Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

It was Votto's third four-hit game of the season and second this month. He's absolutely red hot, going 10-for-17 (.588) with three extra-base hits in the last four games. His batting average now sits over .300 for the first time this year. He is slashing .301/.428/.504 with 18 home runs, 59 RBI and 71 runs in 385 at-bats this season.

Votto was phenomenal Tuesday, going 4-for-4 with a double, a walk, two runs scored and an RBI in a 7-5 come-from-behind victory over the Cardinals.

EDGE Analysis

While his four hits earned him just a single RBI, Votto continues to improve as the season goes on. After hitting below .230 in April and May, Votto hit .319 in June and .413 in July, and has now begun August batting an even 1.000. Votto is especially lethal in leagues that reward walks or on-base-percentage, as the big night vaulted him into the NL lead in OBP with .425.