Boesch had his first RBI as a Reds on Sunday with a pinch-hit single.

After lighting it up in spring training, Boesch has really struggled over the first two months of the season. It's almost as if the Reds are learning that spring training stats compiled by veterans against minor leaguers are somewhat meaningless.

Boesch will make a spot start in right field Saturday against the Cubs, according to Reds assistant director of media relations Jamie Ramsey.

Jay Bruce will get a day off thanks to an 0-for-11 stretch that includes seven strikeouts. Boesch will bat fifth in the order against Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta.

Boesch went 2-for-4 with a stolen base in the Reds' loss to the Cardinals on Sunday night.

The Reds had a watered-down lineup against an elite pitcher and it showed. Boesch's double against Adam Wainwright was the team's only extra-base hit.

Boesch is starting in center field for Sunday night's game against the Cardinals.

Billy Hamilton was injured Saturday and is day-to-day. With Boesch in center field and Skip Schumaker in left, the Reds' outfield won't have a whole lot of range for starting pitcher Mike Leake.

Boesch will start in left field Sunday against the Cardinals.

Boesch earned one of the final spots on the Reds' Opening Day roster, and will draw his first start of the season in the afternoon tilt. With the high-velocity arm of righty Carlos Martinez on the hill for the opposing Cardinals, manager Bryan Price likely wanted to get another left-handed bat in his lineup.

Boesch had his contract selected by the Reds on Sunday.

Boesch has officially earned a spot on the Opening Day roster with the move. He will join three other players with that distinction for the Reds on Sunday, and is expected to serve as a reserve outfield to begin the season.

Boesch remains in contention for an Opening Day roster spot, but the Reds still need to find room on the 40-man roster for him, MLB.com reports.

The Reds have up to five players who theoretically could make the team that aren't currently on the 40-man roster - Boesch, Jason Marquis, Kevin Gregg, Mike Lorenzen and Chris Dominguez. Two spots on the 40-man can be created by putting Sean Marshall and Jason Bourgeois on the 60-day DL, but they will still have to expose other prospects to getting claimed as they pass them through waivers.

Boesch has homered twice in two days in spring training for the Reds. As a non-roster invitee, he's battling to win a bench spot.

Boesch has always been able to fit for a semblance of power, a quality that has been lacking from the Reds reserves the last couple of years. That said, he still has a long way to go win a roster spot, especially being off the 40-man roster. "I think in an optimum situation, you have players that are great situational players -- table setters -- and you have guys that, when needed, provide the threat of a three-run homer," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "I think we have a good portion of our bench secured to a certain degree and we're very happy with those players. But there are some open spots that we could use some thump."

Boesch has signed a minor league contract with the Reds, with an invitation to their major league camp, MLB.com reports.

Boesch has spent most of the past couple of seasons in the minors with a few different teams. In 79 major league plate appearances last year with the Angels, Boesch hit just .187 with more strikeouts than hits. He will have a chance to improve on those numbers though if he can earn a depth outfielding spot with the Reds this season.

Boesch has elected free agency.

Rather than accept his outright assignment to Triple-A, Boesch has, predictably, chosen to explore other opportunities. The 29-year-old went just 14-for-75 (.187 average) in 27 games with the major league team this season, but he hit .332/.381/.636 with 25 homers at Triple-A Salt Lake, and figures to draw interest this winter as a lefty bench bat.

The Angels designated Boesch for assignment Tuesday.

Boesch clubbed 25 homers in 95 games with Triple-A Salt Lake this season, but he hit just .227/.239/.364 upon his return to the major league team in September, resulting in his absence from the ALDS roster. The 29-year-old lefty has plenty of pop, which alone should make him intriguing to teams this offseason, though he's likely best suited for a reserve role.

Boesch was not included on the Angels' ALDS roster, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Boesch put together an outstanding season at Triple-A Salt Lake, finishing with a .332/.381/.636 batting line, 25 homers and 85 RBI in 95 games. He hit just .187/.203/.293 with two homers in 27 games with the big club, however, and apparently the Angels prefer Efren Navarro as a lefty DH option.

Boesch went 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in a loss to the Rangers on Friday.

Boesch didn't have the best night in sum, as he struck out in each of his other three at-bats, but was able to unload off Lisalverto Bonilla in the fifth inning for the two-run shot. the 29-year-old now has two home runs and three RBI in his last four games.

Boesch went 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored in a win over the Mariners on Monday.

Boesch has seen limited action since being called up Sept. 2, as he came into the contest with two hits in 17 at-bats over that span. The left-hander slugged .636 with 25 homers in 95 games at Triple-A Salt Lake this season, but will likely be a part-time player for the Halos in the final two weeks of the season.

Boesch was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday, Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com reports.

As expected, Boesch's name was included among the players recalled after Salt Lake's season ended Monday. Boesch put together an outstanding season at the Triple-A level (.332/.381/.636 with 25 homers in 95 games), and it seems he may see frequent starts at DH against right-handed pitching over the final weeks of the regular season. He's starting and batting eighth Tuesday against the Astros' Brad Peacock.

The Angels optioned Boesch to Triple-A Salt Lake following Wednesday's game, MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez reports.

Boesch went just 1-for-18 after being called up last week, so the Angels decided he would be the player taken off the roster to make room for bullpen reinforcements.

Boesch was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday.

Boesch has quietly put together an outstanding season at Triple-A Salt Lake (.326/.380/.625 with 22 homers in 84 games), and he's finally been rewarded with a promotion back to the big club. He'll serve as the designated hitter and bat seventh against Phillies right-hander Jerome Williams on Tuesday, and it seems Boesch man see regular time at DH moving forward, making him an interesting target in AL-only and deeper mixed formats.

Angels optioned OF Brennan Boesch to Triple-A Salt Lake.

The 29-year-old outfielder appeared in nine games with the Angels, slashing .231/.231/.308 with no RBI and two strikeouts. He'll continue to function as organizational depth.

Angels recalled OF Brennan Boesch from Triple-A Salt Lake.

The Angels are piecing together an outfield with Josh Hamilton and Kole Calhoun on the disabled list. Boesch had two home runs and nine RBI through the first 13 games with Salt Lake and will be a bench bat for the Angels.

Brennan Boesch went 2-for-4 in a losing effort against the Athletics in Cactus League play on Sunday.

The 28-year-old outfielder is in camp as a non-roster invitee, but could find his way onto the Angels bench with a strong showing this spring.