The doubleheader caused a bit of an issue for the Cincinnati Reds next week, but the doubleheader rules also gave the team an easy solution to the future problem. Tonight the club will call up right-handed starting pitcher Chase Petty to pitch game two against the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Reds needed to make the move rather than remain “on schedule” for the rotation because that would lead to a situation on Wednesday where they would have to either call up someone to start the game, go with a bullpen day, or have Chris Paddack pitch on short rest. None of those options make much sense as the bullpen already seems beaten down , having someone pitch on short rest almost never works out well, and calling someone else up to start on Wednesday would require Cincinnati to send someone down to the minor leagues where they would have to stay for 15 days unless they came back to replace an injured player.
With a doubleheader on tap for tonight, Cincinnati is allowed a “27th man” to be added to the roster. This doesn’t require sending anyone to the minor leagues to open up a roster spot and thus saves the Reds from having to do that and then keep that pitcher in the minor leagues for over two weeks. Doing that for Saturday rather than doing it on Wednesday to fill the spot int he rotation then is just a much better move.
It’s been an up-and-down season for Chase Petty this year. When he’s been good, he’s been quite good. But when he’s been bad, it’s been tough to watch. In March/April he allowed 12 earned runs in six starts, but all 12 of those runs came in two outings that covered just 5.2 innings. In his last two starts for the Bats he’s allowed 10 runs in just 6.2 innings.
Right in the middle of there was his first start of May when he was called up to the Reds to make a spot start against the Chicago Cubs. That day he had his best big league outing, giving up three runs in 5.2 innings on four hits and one walk in a game that Cincinnati would lose in walk-off fashion. Tonight the Reds will likely be hoping for a similar outcome from Petty, but with a different results for the team.
I got a bad feeling about this series…. Hope I am wrong. Either way, you have to love two games in one day. As a Bats watcher, I get 4 games today.
I think I’ll gain a few pounds today.
I’ve got the same feeling. Realistically, the Reds need to sweep the Cardinals. They can’t keep losing within the division or the playoff hopes will be gone by June.
Saw the lineup. Replace Marte for Myers, and that’s the best we can put on the field
I know what you meant, but do you think it’s safe to assume that Marte’s AAA stats mean that he’ll hit MLB pitching? He might, and I hope he does, but it’s nothing I’d assume.
Myers for Marte, you know what I meant ?
It is prohibited to start a player who is not on your active roster in the OF.
Good deal. Glad to see Petty get another start.
I’d gladly take 5 or 6 IP and 2 or 3 R from Petty tonight.
Petty will look for revenge against Cardinals since last year he was crushed by them in one of his disastrous outings…By the way I think it went in a double-header
Excellent rundown and explanation!