Keppinger was a very capable replacement for Alex Gonzalez, who spent all of 2008 recovering from knee surgery. But the utilityman-turned-starting shortstop also missed time, 36 games in May and June with a fractured left knee cap. Before the injury, Keppinger was the team's hottest hitter while batting .324, but those numbers fell after he returned. With Gonzalez expected to enter Spring Training in full health, Keppinger likely will have a utility role but could step in and play every day again if needed.

News: Reds SS Jeff Keppinger went 3-for-5 on Tuesday in a win over the Astros. He scored a run and had three singles.

Analysis: Keppinger has pop in his bat for a shortstop. He will play regularly down the stretch, so consider him a sleeper in deeper leagues at this point

Reds.MLB.com's Mark Sheldon reports Cincinnati Reds SS Jeff Keppinger was dropped from second to sixth in the order Tuesday, Sept. 16.

Keppinger has gone for multiple hits in three of his last six games, but he really hasn't been much help over the last three months. There should be better options available on the wire in NL-only formats.

News: Jeff Keppinger's double capped a three-run, ninth-inning rally off Salomon Torres and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Brewers 5-4 on Monday night.

Analysis: Keppinger has pop in his bat for a shortstop. He will play regularly down the stretch, so consider him a sleeper in deeper leagues at this point

Jeff Keppinger's two-run double in the ninth inning capped a late comeback as the Reds topped the Brewers 5-4 on Monday night. Dave Bush held the Reds to two runs over eight innings and handed a 4-2 lead to closer Salomon Torres, but the Reds got to Torres with three runs on four hits in the ninth, with Keppinger's double to deep left bringing home the tying and go-ahead runs. [...]

Keppinger has hit safely in three straight games, including four runs in the time frame. It's been an odd season for the shortstop, who had a .324 batting average before hurting his knee in mid-May. Since his June 22 return, Keppinger is batting just .232, making him all but an afterthought in mixed league formats.

Mark Sheldon, of MLB.com, reports Cincinnati Reds SS Jeff Keppinger broke out of an 0-for-10 slump Thursday, Sept. 4, with an RBI double in the fourth inning.