Cincinnati Reds: Matt Wisler makes good first impression

Matt Wisler joined the Cincinnati Reds at the trade deadline. Friday night was his first chance to make a good impression. He did just that.

Matt Wisler came to the Cincinnati Reds as part of the trade at this year’s deadline that sent Adam Duvall to the Atlanta Braves. Lucas Sims and Preston Tucker were also part of the deal. Wisler got his first opportunity to impress his new club last night in St. Louis. He did just that.

Wisler was called up to the Major Leagues yesterday after the Reds optioned right-handed reliever Austin Brice back to Triple-A Louisville. Brice appeared to injure himself during his relief appearance on Thursday afternoon versus the Milwaukee Brewers.

I’m sure Wisler had an inkling that he’d be counted on in last night’s game. After all, the Reds had just finished back-to-back extra innings games against Milwaukee in which the bullpen had thrown 12.1 innings.

After Homer Bailey‘s horrific outing, Wisler took over in the bottom half of the sixth inning. Wisler first batter was potential NL MVP, Matt Carpenter. Wisler struck him out. He got Yadier Molina, who historically makes mincemeat out of Reds’ pitching, to fly out to left field. Then, after a gutsy at-bat by Jose Martinez resulted in a walk, Wisler got Matt Adams to swing at the first pitch, and it landed in the glove of Phillip Ervin in left field.

After the Cardinals sent the Reds down 1, 2, 3 in the top of the seventh, Wisler returned to pitch in the bottom half of the inning. Harrison Bader managed to squeak a single through the infield, but Wisler struck out Tyler O’Neill and Yario Munoz to end and was replaced in the top of the eighth by Mason Williams when Wisler’s turn at the plate came around.

Lucas Sims is thought to be the prize of the trade with the Braves, but Wisler gave fans a glimpse last night of what he can provide to the ball club. The Ohio-native had seven previous outings this season with Atlanta. He started 3 of 7 games and was carrying a 5.70 ERA entering Friday’s game.

Wisler was the No. 2 ranked prospect for the Braves when they traded away Craig Kimbrel back in 2015 to gain Wisler’s services. He was a seventh-round selection of the San Diego Padres back in 2011.

Wisler threw a lot of breaking balls last night and has a fastball that tops out in the mid-90’s. His breaking pitches are very deceptive, and difficult for hitters to locate. He possesses a slider, sinker, and a curveball in his arsenal.

It’ll be interesting to see what role Wisler plays for the Reds the remainder of this season and into 2019. Wisler was thought to be a starter earlier in his career, but much like Amir Garrett and Raisel Iglesias, he may be a better weapon out of the Cincinnati Reds’ bullpen.