Cincinnati Reds name retread Scott Feldman opening day starter as last resort

The Cincinnati Reds are down to their number four option for an opening day starter in 2017, selecting Scott Feldman.

The Cincinnati Reds are at it again.  They are scrambling for an opening day starter for a second consecutive year.  This year, at least, there is talent behind Scott Feldman in the rotation.

The initial hope was that high-priced righty Homer Bailey would be ready to take the ball opening day.  He missed most of the past two seasons and had to be shutdown prior to the end of last year.  He is already on the disabled list and will be out at least the first two months of the season.

Anthony DeSclafani was the next in line.  The Reds put DeSclafani on the DL with a shoulder injury before opening day last year.  This year he has an elbow injury which will cause him to miss the first half of the season.

Then the hope was that Bronson Arroyo could step in as the opening day starter.  Of course, he became ill and then returning catcher Devin Mesoraco hit Arroyo in the face attempting a throw to second base.  Now his status for opening day is up in the air, leaving the Reds with starter turned reliever turned starter Feldman as the opening day starter.

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Scott Feldman has experience as an opening day starter from his career prior to joining the Cincinnati Reds.

Feldman was the opening day starter in 2014 for a Houston Astros that wasn’t too much unlike this year’s Reds’ squad.  The Astros won the game and ended up with a 19 game improvement from the previous season.  He ended up going 8-12 with a career best 3.74 ERA.

Prior to that, Feldman made the opening day start in 2010 for the Texas Rangers  The Rangers won the American League West and made it to the World Series.  He went 7-11 for the Rangers, but ended up in the bullpen by the end of the season.

Feldman has the experience to be a successful starter.  When he signed a one year contract with the Reds, they thought that he would relieve and occasionally start.  Instead, Feldman is going to be a starter and only relieve if everyone else is healthy at the same time.

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Feldman has twice pitched over 180 innings in his career.  He has also started 25 games or more three times in his 12 year career.  Those don’t make for an opening day starter, but at least he’s better than Alfredo Simon was last year.