The Cincinnati Reds placed first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand on the 10-day injured list Thursday with low back inflammation and recalled infielder Noelvi Marte from Triple-A Louisville.

“We’ve been trying to manage it,” manager Terry Francona said. “It wasn’t getting worse, but it wasn’t getting better. After what he went through last year, just seems like the right thing to do. Get him an epidural. Let it calm down.”

Encarnacion-Strand, out of College Park High School, played in only 29 games last season because of a season-ending right wrist fracture after being hit by a pitch from Michael Lorenzen on April 27 at Texas.

He’s batting .158 this season with two homers and five RBIs in 18 games.

The Reds have options at first base. Jeimer Candelario started at first in Thursday’s series finale against the Mariners. Spencer Steer, who’s been limited to designated hitter duty with a shoulder issue, threw again on Thursday and is close to returning. Francona said utility man Santiago Espinal can also play first.

NATionalS’ LOPEZ SUSPENDED THREE GAMES >> Washington Nationals pitcher Jorge López has been suspended three games and fined for throwing at Pittsburgh’s Andrew McCutchen, Major League Baseball announced Thursday.

López was ejected from Wednesday night’s game against the Pirates after a high pitch near McCutchen’s head led to the benches briefly clearing in the seventh inning.

López hit the previous batter, Bryan Reynolds, with a pitch before facing McCutchen, who had to fall to the ground to avoid getting hit by a 92 mph ball near his head.

The right-hander has filed an appeal of the suspension, which was set to begin Thursday but will not take effect until that process is done.

Nationals manager Dave Martinez received a fine and one-game suspension because of the incident.

As the umpires gathered to discuss what happened during Wednesday’s game, McCutchen and López started arguing, which caused both benches to empty. Pirates outfielder Tommy Pham was also seen yelling while being held back by teammate Oneil Cruz.

ROCKIES FIRE HITTING COACH >> The Colorado Rockies fired hitting coach Hensley Meulens and replaced him with former manager Clint Hurdle.

The Rockies are 3-15. They are hitting .220, tied for 27th with 12 homers and last with 52 runs.

Meulens, 57, had been the club’s hitting coach under manager Bud Black since 2022. He served in the same position for the Giants, helping manager Bruce Bochy guide that organization to three World Series titles.

Hurdle managed the Rockies from 2002-09.