LUCAS SIMS NEWS

Bounces back with easy save Sims earned his first save of the season in a 3-0 win over the Giants on Monday, striking out the only batter he faced.

Impact Sims entered with a man on second and two outs in the ninth. The 26-year-old did his job, as he struck out Evan Longoria to end the game. The Reds haven't really established a clear-cut closer just yet, as Sims and Amir Garrett have had two save chances apiece through the first 10 games of the year. Sims is now 1-for-2 on save opportunities; he surrendered a game-tying two-run homer against the Diamondbacks on April 9. He's been perfect otherwise and currently owns a 4.91 ERA and 6:1 K:BB across 3.2 innings.

APRIL 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Perfect in first outing Sims pitched a perfect eighth to earn a hold in his first outing of the season Monday against the Pirates. He struck out one.

Impact Meanwhile Amir Garrett got the Reds' first save chance and was a little shaky while converting it, allowing a homer and two other baserunners before getting the final out. If Garrett, who threw 25 pitches, needs a day off, it's possible Sims could get the next chance on Tuesday.

APRIL 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Lucas Sims ready for Cincinnati Reds season: 'Show starts Thursday' Lucas Sims will enter the season as one of the Reds' co-closers. He will be an often-used late-inning option out of the bullpen.

MARCH 31, 2021 • CINCINNATI.COM

To split early save chances Sims and Amir Garrett will share closer duties to start the season, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Impact Sims is a righty while Garrett is a lefty, which could mean Sims sees slightly more than half the save chances early on. The Reds haven't said they'll refrain from using a traditional closer all year, however, so whoever pitches better in their first few opportunities could well wind up as a true closer for most of the year.

MARCH 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Allows two runs in spring debut Sims allowed two runs on three hits in his spring training debut, all after retiring the first two batters, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. "The breaking ball...

Impact This wasn't all bad for his first outing. Sims was throwing at 92-94 mph with his fastball, which is at the low end of his range from last season, but within his range. Amir Garrett meanwhile looked dominant in his one inning, striking out the side, and thus might be a little ahead of Sims in the closer's job battle. One thing to keep in mind is that manager David Bell may not use a full-time closer, but instead mix-and-match with Garrett and Sims.

MARCH 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Scheduled to pitch Tuesday Sims (elbow) is scheduled to pitch Tuesday against the Padres, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports. "I felt really sharp," Sims said. "I was making the right adjustments tha...

Impact Sims pitched in an intrasquad game Saturday. Amir Garrett, his competition for the closer's job, pitched in a "B" game Saturday. The job battle could extend into the start of the regular season as both pitchers get up to speed.

MARCH 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Pitching in intrasquad game Sims (elbow) will pitch in an intrasquad game Saturday, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Impact Sims remains confident that he'll be ready to pitch by Opening Day, and he'll take another step in his recovery process Saturday. If he feels good after pitching in the intrasquad matchup, he could make his Cactus League debut at some point next week. If Sims is healthy for Opening Day, he should serve as a high-leverage reliever for the Reds.

MARCH 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Confident for Opening Day Sims (elbow) is confident that he'll be ready to pitch by Opening Day, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Impact Sims threw a live batting practice session Wednesday and felt good Thursday. Assuming that remains the case, the next step in his recovery could be to make his Cactus League debut. The right-hander is optimistic that he'll be healthy enough to pitch to begin the regular season, and he should serve as a high-leverage reliever for Cincinnati.

MARCH 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Throwing live BP Sims (elbow) will throw a live batting practice session Wednesday, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Impact Sims has been brought along slowly early in spring training due to right elbow tightness, but he'll face hitters for the first time Wednesday. If all goes well, he could be on track to make his Cactus League debut in the near future. It's not yet clear whether Sims will be ready to pitch in time for Opening Day, but he should serve as a high-leverage reliever for Cincinnati once he's fully healthy.

MARCH 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Takes part in mound work Sims (elbow) threw 10 fastballs off a mound Wednesday, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Impact Rosecrans notes that Sims took part in a modified flat-ground bullpen session called a "short box" drill, which features a catch on the plate or slightly in front of it. The activity could be the final step before Sims resumes pitching traditional bullpen sessions. Once he completes a few bullpen sessions, Sims will then advance to facing hitters in live batting practice or simulated games before he receives clearance to make his spring debut. The 26-year-old still looks to have a good chance at being ready to go for Opening Day.

MARCH 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Resumes throwing Sims (elbow) threw for the first time in camp Friday, Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Impact Sims has had a delayed start to spring training due to some right elbow tightness. Although he was shut down for several days early in camp, he said that he'll be ready for the regular season. His brief absence could hinder his chances to begin the season as the team's closer, but he should still have time to prepare for Opening Day as long as he doesn't face any setbacks.

FEBRUARY 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Lucas Sims talks about the competition for Cincinnati Reds closer job Lucas Sims is one of the leading candidates to win the Reds' closer job after his breakout 2020 season.

FEBRUARY 17, 2021 • CINCINNATI.COM

MRI returns clean Sims said Wednesday that a recent MRI on his right elbow revealed nothing concerning, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Impact Sims will be behind his fellow relief pitchers to begin spring training while recovering from right elbow tightness, but both he and the Reds are confident that he'll be ready to go for Opening Day. The delayed start to camp could still hurt Sims' chances of contending for the closer role, which appears to be wide open following the offseason trade that sent incumbent Raisel Iglesias to the Angels. Along with Sims, Amir Garrett and Sean Doolittle look to be the primary candidates for the ninth-inning gig.

FEBRUARY 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Expects to be ready for Opening Day Sims (elbow) said on his personal Twitter page on Monday that he had no concerns regarding his readiness for Opening Day.

Impact Reds general manager Nick Krall said Monday that Sims would be delayed to start camp due to elbow tightness. The righty didn't deny those reports but said that the delay was purely precautionary. Players are typically rather optimistic about their own health, and even if Sims opens the season without an official injury designation, he will be at a high risk of re-injury.

FEBRUARY 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Dealing with elbow issue Sims has battled elbow tightness over the offseason and will be delayed at the start of camp, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Impact While it's too early to know whether or not the issue will send Sims to the injured list, it's certainly not positive news for the right-hander. He's expected to be in the mix to close games for the Reds with Raisel Iglesias now an Angel and could get quite a few opportunities if a committee approach is used, as the top two apparent alternatives (Amir Garrett and Sean Doolittle) are both left-handed. If he misses time to start the season, however, it's possible one of those two will stake a firm claim to the role before he gets the chance to be part of the competition.

FEBRUARY 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Potential closer in 2021 Sims is among the internal candidates for the closer's job after Raisel Iglesias was traded to the Angels, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Impact Manager David Bell also mentioned Amir Garrett and Tejay Antone among the possible candidates. Sims built off of a 2019 breakout in the Reds bullpen, posting a 2.45 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 34:11 K:BB over 25.2 IP in 2020 while tallying five holds. Garrett has verbally staked his claim on the role, but we haven't yet seen what else the Reds will do this offseason, let alone how Bell intends to handle the position.

DECEMBER 16, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Earns win in relief Sims (2-0) earned the win in relief in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Brewers. He tossed two scoreless innings, walking two and fanning two.

Impact Sims extended his streak of scoreless appearances to four and, in fact, he has allowed earned runs just once all season. The right-hander owns an excellent 0.69 ERA in 11 appearances (13 innings) out of the bullpen this season.

AUGUST 28, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Cincinnati Reds: Lucas Sims is a better option than Trevor Rosenthal Lucas Sims should quell the Reds trade interest in Trevor Rosenthal. The Cincinnati Reds are looking to add to their roster at the trade dea...

AUGUST 23, 2020 • BLOGREDMACHINE.COM

Another strong outing Sims threw a shutout inning against the Pirates in Thursday's loss, striking out two. He also picked up a win earlier in the week, prompting manager David Bell to suggest that Sims...

Impact This outing wasn't particularly high-leverage, as the Reds were trailing 9-5 in the ninth. With this inning, Sims now has a 0.96 ERA and 13:4 K:BB over 9.1 innings so far, with the one run he's allowed coming on a homer.

AUGUST 14, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Lucas Sims has earned bigger opportunities for the Cincinnati Reds Lucas Sims is 1-0 with 1.08 ERA in 8 1/3 innings so far this year. He’s striking out 11.88 per nine innings and walking 4.32 per nine.

AUGUST 12, 2020 • CINCINNATI.COM

'He’s filthy': Lucas Sims passes first late-innings test in Reds' 10-inning win Sims stepped up and earned a chance to pitch in bigger and bigger moments, to perhaps fill one of the team's biggest needs.

AUGUST 12, 2020 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Lucas Sims: Cincinnati Reds care more than Atlanta Braves about helping pitchers improve Reds relief pitcher Lucas Sims was a first-round draft pick (21st overall) of the Braves in 2012.

AUGUST 9, 2020 • CINCINNATI.COM

Former Brave Lucas Sims calls team out for not developing pitchers Lucas Sims called out the Atlanta Braves for not properly helping him develop as a pitcher. As it turns out, no one was happier than Lucas...

AUGUST 8, 2020 • FANSIDED.COM

Two more homers Castellanos went 3-for-7 with a walk, two home runs, three RBI and two runs scored across both games of Sunday's doubleheader against the Tigers.

Impact Castellanos was the story of the matinee; he slugged two homers against his former team in the first three innings but then made a bad error in the outfield which led to three unearned runs against Lucas Sims. Cincinnati won anyway, and it's easy to forgive Castellanos for one lowlight given all the highlights he has provided so far. The 28-year-old has hit safely in all nine games and is tied for fourth in the majors in RBI with 11.

AUGUST 3, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Bullpen bright spot Though the Reds' bullpen has really struggled, Sims has started well, throwing 3.1 scoreless innings, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out five.

Impact Sims hasn't been put into too many high-leverage situations yet, though he did quell a rally by the Cubs on Wednesday after Brooks Raley faced five batters without retiring a batter. With Robert Stephenson injured, Sims has moved one step up the ladder in the Reds bullpen.

AUGUST 1, 2020 • ROTOWIRE