CINCINNATI -- The Reds placed starting pitcher Homer Bailey on the 15-day disabled list Monday night with a right elbow ligament sprain, recalling relief pitcher Carlos Contreras from Triple-A Louisville to replace him.
Manager Bryan Price said after Monday’s 9-6 win against Milwaukee that the situation came as a surprise because while Bailey had experienced some soreness and discomfort following recent starts, that was nothing out of the ordinary for a healthy pitcher let alone someone coming off of forearm surgery last September.
“There was not any single incident,” said Price. “It’s just a matter of him having some soreness in there and us taking a look at it and finding that there’s some things going on that we’ll have to take a look at.”
Bailey played catch on Sunday and was scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Monday. Instead he had a MRI exam that showed the extent of the issue. Price said the next course of action is still to be determined.
“At this point there looks like there are options but I think we have to get out group together and see what the best option is for Homer and the ballclub,” said Price. “We have to make sure his long-term health isn’t compromised. It’s messy and it’s unbelievably unfortunate both for him as an individual and for our ballclub because he’s a really big piece to what we do here.”
The transaction is retroactive to last Friday (April 24). Bailey missed his first two turns in the rotation this season after rehabbing from surgery last September to repair a torn flexor mass in his forearm. Bailey got a late start to his spring training routine but gradually worked his way into shape without any setbacks to take his regular spot in the rotation. He made his first start of the season April 18 at St. Louis, giving up five runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings in a loss to the Cardinals. Bailey went 5 2/3 innings again last Thursday at Milwaukee, allowing two runs on seven hits in a 4-2 loss to the Brewers.
Bailey had made 105 starts from June 26, 2011, through Aug. 7 last year before his season ended with the flexor mass tear. He threw 208 innings in 2012, 209 innings in 2013 and was on pace to top 200 innings again last season before being injured.
Bailey had originally been scheduled to start Tuesday night’s game against Milwaukee before a rain out on Saturday against Chicago forced manager Bryan Price to rearrange the rotation. Price pushed each starter back a day, except Bailey. Price decided to keep Mike Leake on schedule for Wednesday and move Bailey back to Thursday’s slot against Atlanta.
“At that time, when we flip-flopped when we had the rain out, it was just to give him a couple of extra days,” said Price. “He’s a guy just coming off of surgery. He had what you would consider typical stiffness and soreness post-game throwing in both of his starts. That’s consistent with a guy coming back off of an elbow injury. Just consistent with a guy that’s perfectly healthy. He’ll have some tenderness in his elbow. We just didn’t anticipate that it would lead to problems that would shut him down.”
They’ll now be looking for a new starter to begin the series against the Braves. Contreras, 24, will pitch out of the bullpen for as long as he with the Reds. Contreras appeared in six games for Louisville, covering 8 1/3 innings and had a 1.08 ERA. Contreras struck 14 and walked just three in those appearances. He pitched in 17 games for the Reds last season over three different call-ups from Double-A Pensacola.
Raisel Iglesias began the season as the No. 5 starter and made one appearance, going five innings and allowing three runs on five hits against St. Louis on April 12. Iglesias was sent down to Louisville, where he has made two starts for the Bats as the Reds work to convert the Cuban native from reliever to starter. Michael Lorenzen, who nearly made the Opening Day roster out of spring training, has been Louisville’s most effective starter. Lorenzen is 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA in three starts, allowing 20 hits and four walks with 12 strikeouts in 19 innings.
While Iglesias is on the 40-man roster, Lorenzen is not. Dylan Axelrod and David Holmberg, also starting at Louisville, are on the 40-man roster and have starting experience for the Reds from last season.
“We’ve got a few options down there,” said Price. “We’ve got a couple of guys on the roster and a couple of guys not on the roster that are throwing well. We’ll try to make the best decision possible but at this point we’re not ready to announce anything.”
