After starting pitcher Nick Lodolo was placed on the injured list, the Reds now have to make do without their five best starting pitchers. In addition to Lodolo, the Reds are missing Hunter Greene, Andrew Abbott, Brandon Williamson and Graham Ashcraft.
The Reds placed Lodolo on the injured list on Tuesday with a sprained left middle finger. In a corresponding move, the Reds called up reliever Casey Legumina.
The Reds have just three starting pitchers on the 26-man roster. Long relievers Casey Kelly and Jakob Junis provide some length to the pitching staff, but the rotation is crumbling in the final month of the season. Junis, who hasn’t pitched more than 2 1/3 innings since joining the Reds at the trade deadline, was scheduled to start Tuesday.
Lodolo hasn’t pitched well since going on the injured list in June because of a blister. Although the blister has healed, Lodolo still hasn’t thrown his signature breaking ball like he normally does.
Nick Martinez, who began the year in the Reds’ bullpen, is now their No. 1 starter. Carson Spires, who has pitched out of the bullpen the past two weeks, and Julian Aguiar, who has made two major league starts, are also expected to be part of the rotation.
Young talents Rhett Lowder and Connor Phillips have just reached Triple-A. The Reds have typically prioritized development over short-term roster needs.
Veterans Brandon Leibrandt, Justus Sheffield and Randy Wynne are also in Triple-A. Leibrandt and Sheffield joined the organization midseason, and Wynne was a pitcher in an independent league last year before the Reds picked him up.
