Cincinnati Reds have strained pitching staff due to injuries

The Cincinnati Reds are struggling to maintain a competitive pitching staff due to the numerous injuries.

Currently, the Reds have three pitchers that were in their plans in the off-season and three pitchers that have been on their active roster their year on the DL.  60% of the post-Dan Straily projected rotation has been on the DL since the season started in Homer Bailey, Anthony DeSclafani, and Nick Travieso.  Tony Cingrani and Brandon Finnegan both pitched games before landing on the DL, while Nefi Ogando appeared to have made the team before landing on the DL just prior to Opening Day.  Remember, Cingrani was the key to the future of the Reds’ rotation at one time.

Those injuries have had a couple of side effects.  The first one is that none of the pitchers in the rotation were projected there at the end of last season.  Tim Adleman and Amir Garrett were somewhat in the discussion, but Robert Stephenson was the projected fifth starter for 2017 heading into the off-season.

Another side effect is that the bullpen has been in a constant state of flux all season.  Ogando was supposed to be the long-man.  On top of that Cingrani was the higher leverage lefty before injuries stopped both of them cold.  The absence of Ogando changed the rotation in Louisville, too.  The Reds have kept Stephenson and lefty Cody Reed in the bullpen for most of the season.

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The tide is turning for the Cincinnati Reds as Rookie Davis returns to the rotation and the bullpen stabilizes itself, mostly.

The good news is that Rookie Davis returned to the rotation from the DL.  The bad news is that the two weeks off didn’t appear to help.  Davis allowed eight runs, seven earned, over 2 2/3 innings upon his return.

Davis’ return, though, allowed Reed to return to the bullpen where he has been somewhat successful this year.

It appears that Devin Mesoraco is back in the mix as the starting catcher.  That means Stephenson and Barrett Astin will be job sharing the last spot in the bullpen.  Recent debutee Ariel Hernandez will also get his chances.

The bullpen likely won’t be completely set until Cingrani returns.  He will replace the fluctuating trio and could cause Reed to be sent down for tune-ups intermittently.  In the meantime though, the Reds will be relying on the minor league teams.  They will have to send the Reds pitchers to keep the bullpen afloat.

Next: When you a starter, who ya gonna call? Tim Adleman!

Heading into the second month of the season, the bullpen is averaging 3 2/3 innings per game.  That is not sustainable.  The injuries are keeping the entire staff depleted.  The Reds won’t be able to stay competitive for much longer like this.  Remember, this is what happened to the Reds last year and why health was a focus this spring.