Cincinnati Reds need to be careful when sending pitchers up and down from Louisville

The Cincinnati Reds recently sent down the trio of Rookie Davis, Amir Garrett, and Cody Reed to Triple-A.

The Cincinnati Reds started this by sending Cody Reed down to supposedly stretch him out for starting duties.  Reed was doing a good job as a multi-inning reliever.  His only horrific outing this season was his lone start when he couldn’t complete three innings.

Next Amir Garrett was optioned out in order to save innings.  The Reds reinserted him into the rotation at the minimum number of 10 days.  So far in the season, Garrett has been far and away the Reds’ best starting pitcher.  That wasn’t the case during his first start back.  Unfortunately, the Reds need to continue relying on Garrett as a starter for the rest of the season regardless of form after naming him the number four starter during spring training.

Rookie Davis was a different situation.  He only has one win and only two starts that can be considered anything other than bad.  He needed to be shipped out to get his season reset.

Of course, the Reds have also been sending relievers up and down on what amounts to a shuttle.  The Reds have had Barrett Astin, Austin, Brice, Ariel Hernandez, and Lisalverto Bonilla up to support a tired bullpen at various times so far this season.  Bonllia is now back with the team in the Reds’ rotation.

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With all of the up and down movement for the young Cincinnati Reds’ pitchers they need to monitor their health.

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Sal Romano came up for the Reds to make a spot start when Davis’ injury kept him out earlier in the season.  He clearly had plus stuff, but he also had troubled hitting the strike zone.  When he returned to Louisville, he appeared injured and quickly went on the DL.  Prior to the Aroldis Chapman deal, there was some talk of adding Sal Romano to the pot to sweeten the deal. is solidly in the Reds’ plans for the future.

That is the danger for Garrett.  Did the Reds give him enough innings to stay sharp, while also limiting his innings overall?  Garrett needed to come back fresh and sharp without increasing his chance of injury.  His first start he didn’t even last five against the Cubs and he didn’t look sharp.

A similar concern should revolve around the Reed situation.  Robert Stephenson has had little to hang his hat on this season, but the Reds sent Reed down to stretch him out.  That means the Reds have to protect Reed while changing the routine for a young pitcher who modified his role to help the team.

Ironically, Davis’ injury and poor start to the season may help him avoid the risk of injury.  Davis has pitched a low number of innings and the break for two weeks after his trip to the DL have kept his pitch counts down overall.  Now he can focus on being more aggressive at Louisville.

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Overall, the Reds have done an exceptional job of managing the young pitchers.  So far they have been able to keep them relatively fresh.  Now the Reds just need to make sure that they take care of the pitchers’ health for the rest of the season.