The Cincinnati Reds' bullpen is already the worst in the majors, and now Aroldis Chapman is struggling.
After their All-Star closer took a second loss in as many games, the Reds will likely need to rely heavily on their relievers again with Anthony DeSclafani again getting the ball versus the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night.
Cincinnati's bullpen has a 5.47 ERA - 1.36 higher than last year. The Reds' relievers have allowed 11 runs and issued seven walks in 12 2-3 innings of a 1-4 stretch, and Chapman's struggles have them facing a potential season-high four-game slide.
He's given up the winning run in the ninth in back-to-back games, including Monday's 2-1 loss to Atlanta in the opener of this three-game set. Chapman allowed Phil Gosselin to steal third before he scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch. He hadn't allowed a run through 12 2-3 innings of his first 13 games, converting all six save chances.
"They take advantage of a slow delivery, which is something we have to work on," manager Bryan Price said. "We can't afford to just give up third base in that situation."
Going to the bullpen early has been necessary with DeSclafani (2-3, 2.50 ERA) on the mound.
The right-hander has lost three straight starts with a 4.80 ERA and 11 walks in 15 innings, getting knocked out before the sixth each time. That includes a 4-3 loss at Atlanta on May 1, when the right-hander gave up four runs and issued a career-high five walks in five innings.
DeSclafani walked four more Thursday, allowing three runs and seven hits in five innings of a 7-2 loss at Pittsburgh.
"I thought he did do a great job of battling," Price said. "It can be so frustrating when you're throwing the ball and you're not sure where it's gonna end up in the zone."
The Braves (15-17) will again counter DeSclafani with Mike Foltynewicz (2-0, 5.23), who is trying to become the first pitcher to win his first three games with the Braves since Ben Sheets in 2012.
The right-hander allowed three runs - two earned - in five innings against Cincinnati (15-17) on May 1. He followed that up Wednesday by yielding one run with seven strikeouts through five innings before giving up three and leaving with one out in the sixth of a 7-5 win over Philadelphia.
Foltynewicz is also proving to be solid with the bat, driving in a run with a sacrifice fly against the Phillies after connecting for a two-run double versus the Reds.
"You got to feel the competition, too, with these guys," Foltynewicz told MLB's official website of trying to follow Shelby Miller in the rotation. "You want to go out there and try to one-up someone."
He gets that chance again since Miller shut down the Braves on one run and three hits with eight strikeouts in seven innings of the series opener.
Freddie Freeman is on a tear, going 16 for 32 with six doubles and eight RBIs during an eight-game hitting streak, and was 2 for 4 on Monday.
