3 internal options to replace injured Reds starter Ben Lively

3. Levi Stoudt could replace injured Reds starter Ben Lively.

Levi Stoudt was included in the trade, along with Noelvi Marte and Edwin Arroyo, that sent Luis Castillo to the Seattle Mariners last summer, but the right-hander has seen very little time in the big leagues.

Stoudt's role has been a bit muddled this season. Obviously the 25-year-old has experience as a starter, but two of his four appearances for the Reds have come in relief this season. One look at Stoudt's stat line is going to scare most Reds fans away.

Stoudt's first start back in April was against a red-hot Tampa Bay Rays team. Stoudt was barely able to get out of the first inning and left after allowing seven runs on nine hits through just four innings of work.

Stoudt came on in relief of opener Derek Law against the Miami Marlins in May and looked much better. He then made his second major league start against the Atlanta Braves and allowed three runs on four hits while walking three.

Here's where things get interesting with Levi Stoudt; he's already been optioned to the minor leagues five times, and a new rule limits the number of time a player can be optioned during a season. If the Reds were to recall Stoudt once more, they'd have to pass him through waivers in order to keep him on the roster in order to send him back to the minor leagues.

That could definitely be a sticking point, as it would almost guarantee that Cincinnati would have to keep Levi Stoudt on the active roster throughout the remainder of the 2023 season in order to keep him. That could complicate things a little bit.