Reds manager David Bell names surprise starter for Thursday's finale vs. Tigers

It'll be Derek Law taking the ball on Thursday afternoon at Comerica Park as the Cincinnati Reds look to complete the sweep of the Detroit Tigers and maintain their playoff positioning.

Cincinnati escaped with another one-run victory on Wednesday night as the Reds bullpen shined once more. Cincinnati's relief corps has now gone 21 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run. But it appears as if they'll need more of the same on Thursday.

With Law, who'll be celebrating his 33rd birthday today, acting as the team's opener for the third time this season, Reds manager David Bell will be looking to get at least an inning or more out of the right-hander before handing the game over the bullpen.

David Bell names Derek Law the starter for Thursday's finale vs. Tigers.

Derek Law will be making his third start of the season. In his previous two outings in which he's began a game for the Cincinnati Reds, Law hasn't yielded a run in 2.2 innings of work. The Reds will be hoping for more of the same on Thursday afternoon in the Motor City.

But who is going to follow Law? With Tejay Antone, unfortunately, exiting Wednesday's game with right elbow discomfort, the Reds are likely to place the right-hander on the 10-day IL. Given his history, there's no scenario in which Cincinnati will send Antone back onto the mound anytime soon.

With Antone likely headed to the IL, the Reds have a few options. At the top of the list might be activate Ben Lively from the COVID-19-related injured list and allow him to piggyback off Derek Law for multiple innings.

Cincinnati could recall a pitcher like Levi Stoudt or Brett Kennedy from Triple-A in order to give the club some added length on Thursday as well. With Andrew Abbott getting some extra rest this week, it appears as a bullpen game will be on tap as the Cincinnati Reds look to stay in the mix for that final spot in the NL Wild Card.