Perrotto: Will Rest Restore Bryan Reynolds’ Power? (+)

Bryan Reynolds hit five home runs in the first seven games of the season. The Pittsburgh Pirates left field has gone deep three times in his ensuing 61 games.

Prior to Thursday night’s 6-4 loss to the Marlins in Miami, Reynolds was placed on the 10-day injured list with lower back inflammation. The move came after Reynolds missed the last two games of the Pirates’ three-game series with the Chicago Cubs earlier in the week at PNC Park.

The Pirates say Reynolds has been dealing with a sore back for about a week. However, it is easy to wonder if his back hasn’t been an issue for much longer with the quiet Reynolds either hiding the injury or the Pirates thinking he could play through it.

The lack of home runs over the past two months has been alarming. Three longballs in 61 games projects to eight over a full 162-game schedule. Those aren’t the numbers of a healthy player.