Cincinnati Reds fans can breathe a sigh of relief—starter Brady Singer appears to have dodged a major bullet. During Tuesday night's game, Singer took a line drive directly off his right ankle, forcing him to exit early. But in a welcome twist for a team that's been plagued by pitching injuries, the veteran right-hander expects to make his next scheduled start on Sunday in Cleveland without missing a beat.

"When I woke up it was a little sore, but now it's looser," Singer said after completing a full pregame workout on Wednesday. "I think the swelling was the biggest concern, but we got a lot of it out (Tuesday) night. It feels a lot better today."

This is a huge break for the Reds, who have been operating with a severely depleted rotation. Already, three key starters are on the injured list, and top prospect Chase Petty has been dealing with a blister after an impressive spot start last week. The team was forced to sign veteran Chris Paddack—recently released by the Marlins—to join the rotation this Saturday, underscoring just how thin the pitching staff has become.

Manager Terry Francona acknowledged the team's cautious optimism: "We'll obviously keep an eye on (Singer) as we progress. I think there was some expectation he might come in a little worse. We're hopeful."

For a squad that's been battered by bad injury news all season, this is the kind of break they desperately needed. Singer's quick recovery means the Reds can keep their rotation intact, at least for now, and focus on getting back on track.