Cincinnati Reds look to put together a rotation to save their bullpen

The Cincinnati Reds continue to cast an ever widening net looking for rotation help.

The Cincinnati Reds are remaining active in looking for additional options for the starting rotation.  They have scoured the waiver wire, looked through their minor league affiliates and worked tirelessly to rehabilitate injured pitchers.  As July approaches all of these options remain open.

The most interesting prospect to stay in the Reds’ rotation is a true prospect.  Luis Castillo, who came over in the Dan Straily deal, made his major league debut going 5 innings allowing two earned runs.  The good news is that he struck out five, but the bad news is that he walked the same number.

Homer Bailey also made his return in Washington.  He has only started 21 games in the past four seasons.  If he can return to his 2013 form, he will be a huge boost to the Reds’ rotation.

On Monday the projected starter will be a returning Brandon Finnegan.  He has been out since April 15 with an injury.  During his rehab, Finnegan has been impressive over three starts, despite only throwing a total of 162 pitches.

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If these three work, then the rotation could turn around with the help of the holdovers in Opening Day starter Scott Feldman and the de facto ace Tim Adleman.

The Cincinnati Reds need to plan for what happens if one or more of that trio is not ready to go every fifth day.

The Reds have given chances to waiver wire acquisitions in Lialverto Bonilla and Jake Buchanan.

We have seen the major league debuts of Sal Romano, Rookie Davis, and Amir Garrett in the rotation this year.  Minor league free agent Asher Wojciechowski even made a few starts.

For the sake of argument, let’s suppose that Castillo is good enough to stay in the rotation, but Bailey and Finnegan reinjure themselves quickly.  Then what?

Then the Reds have two places to go – the minors or the bullpen.  In the minors the Reds have a couple of prospects that started the season in the bullpen for the Reds in Cody Reed and Robert Stephenson starting at Louisville.  They also have Tyler Mahle who isn’t on the forty man roster yet, but has had an impressive 2017 season.

Next: Brandon Finnegan could be back Monday

In the bullpen are former minor league starters Austin Brice and Michael Lorenzen, but the Reds haven’t started them yet.  That likely means the Reds are looking at their minors or other teams’ retreads if Bailey can’t go.  Whatever happens, at least the bullpen has stayed strong all year.