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Miami Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton has been sidelined for the past several games due to a shoulder injury. The slugger hit yesterday, and manager Mike Redmond told reporters -- including Joe Frisaro of MLB.com -- that he's expected to return to the lineup tonight for the team's series opener against the Cincinnati Reds.
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After hitting yesterday, Stanton said "things felt good," according to Redmond. Considering the outfielder felt better yesterday, the skipper expects him to be "good to go" today.
Stanton has been out of the Marlins' lineup since he was scratched from Friday night's contest. If he's able to return today, he'll have missed six consecutive games due to the shoulder injury.
The injury was sustained on April 6 when Stanton made a diving catch during a game against the New York Mets. He wasn't immediately sidelined by the ailment, as he continued to play through the pain. But he was ultimately scratched from the lineup prior to an April 12 contest.
Stanton has gotten off to a slow start to the 2013 season -- maintaining a batting average of only .167 with no home runs or RBI -- which can probably at least in part be attributed to his shoulder injury.