Cincinnati Reds Kevin Quackenbush has rough start to season

The Cincinnati Reds thought they had a potential set-up man, but found an ineffective reliever.

The Cincinnati Reds tried to load-up on set-up men in front of Raisel Iglesias this off-season.  In addition to Kevin Quackenbush, they also signed David Hernandez and Jared Hughes. Of the trio only Hughes has a win, hold or save.

Quackenbush has an ERA of  11.00 and a WHIP of 2.11.  Batters have hit .333 against him.  He has lost a game over ten appearances.

Those are atrocious numbers.  He has surrendered three home runs in just nine innings pitched this season.  He also has walked six while only striking out seven.

Those ratios are untenable.  In his most recent appearance Quackenbush surrendered six runs in a single inning of work.  He allowed four hits and two walks.

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Quackenbush also struck out two, but gave up a home run.  He allowed three runs in the first inning of work and then allowed three more base runners before manager Jim Riggleman pulled him.  All three base runners scored and Quackenbush was credited with six runs over one inning of work.

He had a similarly disastrous outing in the second game of the season.  He allowed four runs in an inning of work.  Those two outings allow for ten of his eleven earned runs.

The Cincinnati Reds hope that Kevin Quackenbush can stabilize his performance.

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With the San Diego Padres Quackenbush was mostly a middle reliever.  His best season for them was his first in 2014.  Each of the past four seasons Quackenbush has spent time in both the majors and the minors.

In 2014 Quackenbush was so good that the Padres used him to close games.  He collected six saves in addition to his ten holds.  His WHIP that season was just 1.10.

Each of the next two seasons, Quackenbush’s ERA hovered around 4.00 and his WHIP rose above 1.20.  He only collected a total of two saves and eleven holds.  Then he had his worst season as a pro.

This season Quackenbush was so bad that the Reds demoted him to Triple-A Lousiville.  He cleared waivers and re-signed with the Reds meaning there was little interest for him elsewhere.  Like in past seasons, Quackenbush may just need to reset his mind and body.

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The Reds have plenty of relievers in the minors.  Quackenbush, though, has shown the ability to bounce back from bad starts to the season.  Now, it’s time to see if he can do that for the Reds.