Cincinnati Reds’ starter Tim Adleman appears to have run out of gas

After being the Cincinnati Reds most consistent pitcher for two months, it appears that Tim Adleman has run out of gas.

From mid-April until mid-June Tim Adleman was the Cincinnati Reds’ most consistent starting pitcher.  Over the past month, you may call Adleman consistent. Unfortunately, if you did, it would be consistently worse than usual.

Really, that makes it sound a little worse than it is for Adleman.  He has just taken a step back to the pack.  Adleman just has had a few weak starts in a row.

Adleman has only given up five or more runs four times over 16 starts.  The only time that he has surrendered six earned runs in a start was May 20 against the Colorado Rockies.  Giving up five or more runs 25% of the time is too high, but it is not the end of the world for a number five starter in the worst rotation in baseball.

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The reason Adleman looks out of it is his innings pitched.  His last time out was the first time all year that he didn’t pitch at least five, except for one start he left with a neck injury.  He also hasn’t pitched more than five innings in a whole month.

Tim Adleman can stabilize as a traditional number five starter for the CIncinnati Reds and be just fine.

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Adleman’s issue is a slowly rising WHIP.  He started out the season strong with a 1.11 WHIP through three April appearances.  Since then his WHIP has slowly crept up to its current number of 1.38.

Each month his WHIP has gone up vs the preceding month.  The discouraging part in solving the mystery is that his walk rate and his batting average against have fluctuated.  So he hasn’t lost control or suddenly become more hittable in isolation.

What has happened is that Adleman has given up at least one home run in each of his last nine starts.  Adleman is a flyball pitcher, so more home runs are expected.  The consistency with which other teams are hitting them and the new trend to have a runner on base is damaging what has been a solid season for Adleman overall.

Now is not the time to raise the alarm.  Now is the time to take a deep breath.  Adleman may need skip a turn in the rotation or more likely change up his preparation for a game or two for mental refreshment.

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Adleman was a consistent force for the Reds the second half of last season.  This season he has spent most of it as the most consistent pitcher is a questionable rotation.  Hopefully, he can slow down the home run rate enough to finish out the season strong.