12 Mark Reynolds, 1B

After a miserable 16-game stretch that saw him hit .151 (8 for 53) with two home runs, the Indians' Mark Reynolds had three hits Thursday, bringing his batting average back above .260.

So ... is that the end of the regression?

Hitting .260 wouldn't be entirely unprecedented for him. He did it in 2009, which was by far the best season of his career. He's a bit healthier now than he was for much of his Orioles career, making that mark a bit more feasible, but I think it's the absolute high point for a player who strikes out as often as he does.

Any way you look at it, the 2013 season will be a roller-coaster ride for Reynolds, but at least you can trust him to be an elite source of power again after nearly slumping his way out of a job last year. That alone makes him a top-15 third baseman in Fantasy. Keep that in mind when you're tempted to sell him short during the down times.

Indians third baseman Mark Reynolds hit his 12th home run of the season Saturday during a win over the Mariners. Reynolds homered in the fifth inning off former teammate Joe Saunders.

Reynolds went 2 for 5 with three RBI. He had an RBI single in the first inning and another on a fielder's choice in the ninth to give the Indians the walk-off win.

Reynolds, batting .268, had been slumping a bit but has 12 homers and 37 RBI this season.

Indians corner infielder Mark Reynolds endured a quiet performance during Friday's contest against the Mariners.

Reynolds, who left Wednesday's game with a stinger, remained in the lineup Friday as he finished 0 for 4 with two strikeouts in a 6-3 win. He is hitting .263 with 11 homers and 34 RBI in 133 at-bats.

Indians corner infielder Mark Reynolds suffered an injury scare Wednesday during a win in Philadelphia, MLB.com reports. Reynolds got a "stinger" during an at-bat in the fifth inning against Phillies starter Cole Hamels. 

Reynolds left the game later, more for a defensive switch than an injury, according to manager Terry Francona. 

"He just needed to get the feeling back," Francona said. "We [took him out because we] wanted to get [Nick Swisher] out of right. [Reynolds] is okay."

The slugger is batting .271 on the season after a double in the third inning that scored a pair of runs. He has homered 11 times with 34 RBI this year. 

"Just kind of hyperextended it a bit," Reynolds said. "I had to get feeling back because it's tough to hit with a numb arm. Maybe it will shorten my swing a bit."

Indians manager Terry Francona told The Plain Dealer Tuesday that Mark Reynolds will be the team's everyday third baseman following Lonnie Chisenhall's demotion.

"A lot will have to do on how Mark does," Francona said. "It's one thing to use a guy sparingly at a position. When you play him every day, that's different. I don't want to run him into the ground."

Reynolds, who has started the last two games at third, is hitting .231 with three home runs and 10 RBI through his first 13 games in May.