The Cincinnati Reds made a few roster transactions on Thursday that included Joey Votto being placed on the 10-day IL with left shoulder discomfort.  This is the same side that he had surgery on and his rehabilitation caused him to miss the vast majority of the first half of the season.

Injuries are never a good thing, but timing wise Joey Votto being placed on the IL with approximately four to five weeks remaining in the regular season is not ideal.  Cincinnati is just three and a half games back of the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League central division race and a half game back of the Chicago Cubs in the Wild Card standings.

One reassuring aspect to all of this is that Reds manager David Bell has indicated that Joey Votto will not be out for too long.

Injury timeline for Joey Votto revealed by Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell.   

According to David Bell Joey Votto is expected back in early September.  Votto himself said that he was not quite at the place he wanted to be physically and that it was affecting his swing.  If he does end up spending the minimum 10-day on the IL then he would be eligible to return over labor day weekend on Saturday, September 2.