Cincinnati Reds need to pick starting pitchers based on ability to throw enough pitches
The Cincinnati Reds have seen so many starting pitchers injured that they need to rethink how they decide who starts.
In the last several weeks it has appeared that the Cincinnati Reds had their 2017 starting rotation set and that it fell apart completely. This is due in no small part to an unusually high number of injuries. This is a team in flux and one supposedly built on starting pitching.
The list of starting pitchers who have been injured this year is almost too long, but here it is: Homer Bailey, Anthony DeSclafani, Raisel Iglesias, Michael Lorenzen, John Lamb, Cody Reed, Alfredo Simon, and Jon Moscot. That’s eight pitchers that were on the disabled list this season at some point when the Reds would have liked them to start for the big league team.
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After Finnegan, Stephenson, and Straily, the questions abound.
News flash! Those three deserve to be penciled into the rotation first in the spring. Granted, they may be the 3-5 starters, but there shouldn’t be any doubt about those three. Then the Reds must decide who else can throw enough pitches every fifth game and stay healthy.
Based on this season, Iglesias, Lorenzen, and Simon are not among those that can stay healthy under the stress of starting at the MLB level. Simon appears to have worn down. He might be able to return in a reduced role next year. He might not.
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Lorenzen relieved in college and looks better in that role with the Reds. Iglesias is a bit of an aberration. He started all of last year between Cincinnati and Triple-A, but isn’t cut out for it long term.
Who does that leave? Bailey and DeSclafani, if they can get healthy, should be the last two. At this point that appears to be a big if and getting bigger every day. Moscot has definitely earned the right to be in the conversation, but like DeSclafani he must be healthy enough when the Reds need him.
Lamb and Reed may have injured themselves into the bullpen. Reed probably will warrant another chance, but Lamb appears to max out at 20 starts every year. That sounds like a swing man to me. Don’t forget top prospect Amir Garrett and Rookie Davis want their shots too.
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