Reds Lineup Experimental

The Reds lineup since Joey Votto was placed on the disabled list has had a vastly different look.  Falling out of the pennant race is a factor in the Reds willingness to experiment.

"I don't personally use playing the spoiler as a motivation but you are less likely to experiment for the integrity of the pennant race," Riggleman said.  "With the wild card there are more teams in a race."

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There are also three divisions meaning three possible close division races.  Still the Reds need to answer questions about their future and see if they can find alternatives for players.  Who can play another position if needed?

Tucker Barnhart will play first base against San Francisco Giant left-hander Andrew Suarez.  Dilson Herrera will get his third career start in left field.  Barnhart is starting at first base for the second time in three games.

The Reds have yet to use, young Aristedes Aquino, who was called up from Double A Pensacola on Friday.  One of the reasons for the flux in the Reds lineup is the shoulder injury to Scott Schebler.  The latter will play three rehab games for Pensacola, joining the team in Chicago next weekend.

The Reds had shown a lot of progress until Jesse Winker went down with a serious shoulder separation.  He was second in the National League to Votto in on-base-percentage.  Schebler was providing power to the lineup when he jammed his shoulder into a wall in St. Louis before the All-Star break, attempting to make a catch.  Votto was drilled in the knee with a pitch from Ryan Madson on August 4.   Votto tried to play through the pain but it became obvious it reduced his effectiveness.

For good or evil it has been a break for Phillip Ervin, Mason Williams, Brandon Dixon and Herrera to enable them to prove they can play at this level.

Ervin is hitting .288.  He was hitting .289 in Louisville when he was called up for the second time this season.  Ervin hit five home runs in 48 games in Louisville.  He hit three in 43 games for the big club, including the walk off game winner on Friday night.

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Williams is hitting .279 with the Reds in 20 games.  He hit .280 in 87 games in Louisville.

Herrera was hitting .297 with seven home runs in 50 games with Louisville.  He hit .298 in 20 games in Pensacola and is hitting .188 in 25 games in Cincinnati with three home runs including one against Madison Bumgarner on Saturday.

The Reds are using a six-man rotation to see if Robert Stephenson can make the last step.  The Reds' first round pick in the 2011 draft, is in his third and final option year.  In 2019 Stephenson has to either stay on the Reds' 25-man roster or be exposed to waivers.  In two starts Stephenson is 0-1 with 7.94 ERA.  Most disturbing is the nine walks he's issued in 5 2/3 innings.

Cody Reed is projected as a starter but he is now working out of the bullpen.  So far this season in seven games he owns a 5.23 ERA.  Reed is 0-1  with one start.

"We've talked to the veteran starters about the situation we're in," Jim Riggleman said.  "Danny Darwin have both mentioned it to them.  We have to look at some people and make some decisions about next year.  We will get out of this as soon as possible.  There was speculation the Matt Harvey would have been traded before the deadline.  That would have taken us out of the six man.  That didn't happen so now we have to look at performances and decide who would come out. We need to find out who can handle the bullpen if they do come out.  I think it will be one more time, if that."

Matt Harvey admits it is more difficult to stay sharp with the extra day of rest.

"It is hard to stay sharp when you're used to going every fifth day.  You feel a little out of whack.  The guys are calling me the Saturday starter like in college," Harvey said.