The Reds transferred Santillan (back) to the 60-day injured list Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

The move guarantees Santillan will return from his back strain no sooner than mid-August, though manager David Bell speculated the reliever might not be activated until September, per Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer. Prior to landing on the shelf with al lower-back strain, Santillan struggled to the tune of a 5.49 ERA and 1.78 WHIP in 19.2 innings, but he could still see high-leverage work once healthy.

Santillan (back) began core-strengthening exercises this weekend and could be cleared to resume a throwing program within the next week, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

Santillan may have an outside chance of making it back for the final weekend before the All-Star break if he avoids any further snags in his rehab program for his strained lower back, but given the Reds' place in the standings, it wouldn't be surprising if he was held out for the remainder of the second half. Before landing on the shelf, Santillan had recorded a save, blown save or hold in each of his final seven appearances, but he may not immediately factor into closing situations upon his return. While Santillan has been sidelined, Hunter Strickland has notched three saves in as many chances and looks to be manager David Bell's preferred closing option.

Santillan was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday due to a back injury.

EDGE Analysis

Santillan has apparently been dealing with the issue over the last few days and will be sidelined for at least two weeks. The exact nature and severity of his injury aren't yet clear, and he doesn't have a timetable to return. Art Warren and Alexis Diaz should see more work in the ninth inning while Santillan and Lucas Sims (back) are sidelined.

Santillan (0-1) allowed four runs (two earned) on two hits and two walks to blow the save and take the loss Thursday against the Diamondbacks.

EDGE Analysis

Santillan entered the game in the ninth inning in a save situation, but he unraveled by retiring just two of the six batters he faced. While he has served as Cincinnati's closer of late, Santillan has allowed at least one earned run in each of his last three appearances while allowing eight hits and three walks across just 2.1 frames in that span. Art Warren or Alexis Diaz could start to earn more work in the ninth inning if Santillan's struggles continue.

Santillan got the save Tuesday after he pitched one inning, giving up one run on three hits while striking out two in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Red Sox.

EDGE Analysis

Santillan was called on in the bottom of the ninth inning to protect a 2-0 lead, but he quickly ran into trouble. He allowed three hits including a two-out RBI single to Alex Verdugo, but he was able to get Trevor Story swinging to end the contest. The save was the 25-year-old's fourth of the season in five opportunities and he also has four holds. The earned run was his first given up in his last six appearances, earning two three saves and two holds over that stretch. Santillan now owns 4.67 ERA and 1.56 WHIP with 20 strikeouts 17.1 frames in 17 appearances this year.

Santillan allowed two hits and a walk with two strikeouts in 1.1 innings to earn the save in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Giants.

EDGE Analysis

Santillan escaped a two-on, two-out jam in the eighth inning with little trouble before putting more traffic on base in the ninth. He was able to get a little help from his defense, as Joey Bart was thrown out at home on a two-out Wilmer Flores single that would have counted as the game-tying run. Santillan has not given up a run in his last five appearances, logging six scoreless inning with two saves, two holds and a 4:4 K:BB in that span. For the season, he's posted a 4.41 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 18:9 K:BB, three saves, four holds and a blown save across 16.1 innings. As long as he's pitching well, the 25-year-old should remain in the Reds' high-leverage mix as part of a closer committee.

Santillan earned the save in Thursday's win over the Guardians. He struck out one batter in 1.2 perfect innings.

EDGE Analysis

When Alexis Diaz made a mess of things in the eighth inning, Santillan was there to clean up. He got a double play to end the eighth and then retired the side in order in the ninth to secure his second save of the season, and first since Opening Day. Diaz has the best numbers in the Cincinnati bullpen, but Diaz is inexperienced, and manager David Bell likes to mix and match anyway. Santillan, Art Warren and others will likely remain in the mix for the occasional save as the chances get spread around.

Santillan really struggled in Thursday's loss to the Padres, retiring two batters while hitting two batters, walking another and then giving up a bases-loaded double, with a lack of common of his slider being the culprit, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. "Right from pitch one, it looked like he was maybe overthrowing his slider a little bit, pulling it," Reds manager David Bell said.

EDGE Analysis

Since nailing down the save on Opening Day, Santillan has declined, picking up one hold over the weekend, but seeing his ERA skyrocket to 8.10 with a WHIP of 1.50. With Lucas Sims back, Santillan has been pushed down in the closer pecking order, such that it exists with the Reds.

Santillan earned a save against Atlanta on Thursday, pitching a perfect ninth inning during which he struck out two batters.

EDGE Analysis

The Reds' closer situation was murky enough heading into the regular season, and it becomes even more complicated with Santillan -- who wasn't generally considered among the prime candidates for ninth-inning duties -- picking up the team's first save. Manager David Bell indicated in late March that the right-hander was even being considered for a spot in the starting rotation, so the organization obviously values his versatility. It seems unlikely that Santillan would be handed full-time closer duties after one successful outing, though he handled the role with aplomb Thursday, throwing 11 of 15 pitches for strikes and retiring the side in order. There will no doubt be plenty of Thursday night FAAB bids placed on the hurler based on his Opening Day performance, but managers would be wise to reign in expectations for what remains an unsettled bullpen situation in Cincinnati.

Santillan is expected to fill a high-leverage middle-innings role this season, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Reds intend to use Santillan the same way they used Tejay Antone last season before the latter underwent Tommy John surgery. Santillan could pick up the occasional save that way-Antone saved three games in 23 appearances-but his main path to fantasy relevance may come from the fact that he'll likely throw more than an inning at a time. Santillan has a history as a starting pitcher but didn't show the command necessary to fill that role last season, walking 11.1 percent of opposing batters, so the role should fit him well.