Reds lose yet another starter to injured list in late-season blow

It's over. A lot of the Cincinnati faithful have been saying that for weeks now, but the latest injury news coming out of the Reds' camp has all but ended any talk of a late-season surge that would see David Bell's miraculously make a run at the MLB postseason.

On Friday, the Cincinnati Reds announced that Andrew Abbott was placed on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to August 20th) with a left shoulder strain. Abbott was originally scheduled to pitch on Friday, but was replaced by Buck Farmer. It's assumed that Cincinnati will treat Friday's games against the Pittsburgh Pirates like a bullpen.

In a corresponding move, the Reds selected the contract of Alan Busenitz from Triple-A Louisville. The right-hander spent some time in the big leagues with Cincinnati last season. Catcher Austin Wynns, who was on the 10-day IL with a right teres major tear, was shifted to the 60-day IL to clear a roster spot.

Reds place LHP Andrew Abbott on 15-day IL with shoulder injury

Abbott now joins Hunter Greene, Graham Ashcraft, and Brandon Williamson as the fourth Reds starter to be placed on the injured list. With Frankie Montas now playing for the Milwaukee Brewers, Nick Martinez is the only active starter who was part of the Reds Opening Day roster.

Busenitz is hardly a starter, and one has to wonder what type of roster move the Reds will be looking to make moving forward. Connor Phillips is the only healthy starting pitcher currently on the 40-man roster down at Triple-A, but his last start was disastrous.

The Reds just brought Julian Aguiar up to the big leagues earlier this week, so there's no telling who Cincinnati will choose to replace Abbott in the rotation. They may well have to look to Double-A like they did with Carson Spiers last season.

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