Cingrani would be the first left-hander to start for Cincinnati in 180 games. The last left-handed pitcher to start for the Reds was Dontrelle Willis on September 29, 2011.
Cingrani was called up in September of last season, pitching five innings. He allowed one run and struck out nine. This season at Louisville Cingrani started three games and pitched 14 1/3 scoreless innings with three hits, two walks and 26 strikeouts. He has one win and zero defeats.
As excited as the Reds are to see if Cingrani can succeed at the big league level, Dusty Baker would prefer the circumstances were different..
"I don't want to see him at the cost of Johnny Cueto," Baker said. "We are here to win ballgames, not to see who the next rising star is."
Cingrani is a work in progress.
"He went down (to Louisville) to work on his secondary pitches," Baker said. "He had hopes of making the team out of spring training. Like Mike Leake did."
Baker wishes that Leake be allowed to developed without the over analysis that seems to trail him.
"Leake is young. He is going to have something to work on for a long time," Baker said. "I wish he wasn't scrutinized. Let him grow up."
Baker pointed out that Cueto and Homer Bailey took time to develop.
"People wanted Homer out of here a couple years ago. Johnny was 10-10. Sometimes you want them to be ready right now. They need time."
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