Tyler Mahle Will Be Skipped In The Rotation

Matt Harvey, Cody Reed, Luis Castillo and Anthony DeSclafani will be the starting rotation for the near future.

"We have a question mark on the 18th," Riggleman said.  "We're not sure yet on Mahle. Mahle his last outing I took him out after three.  He was ok.  I just didn't feel he was right where he needed to be. So we may give him some more days before he pitches again."
Cody Reed has had three starts and has appeared in 11 games in relief.

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"Reed has shown flashes (of good pitching)," Riggleman said.  "We'd like to have a left-hander in our rotation but this is a little bit of an audition.  We think he's going to be a real factor on our ballclub, whether he's a starter or in the bullpen, one way or another.  If he can work out of the rotation, that's better yet.  I'd like to get him five, six innings. It will be based on how he's pitching."

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The staff is full of young pitchers, even the so called veterans DeSclafani and Harvey are 27 and 29 respectively.

"Reluctantly, we're looking at five innings," Riggleman said.  "I love it when we get six plus like last night that's better yet.  That's obviously what we want.  DeSclafani's gone seven.  We just had to lower the bar for what we expect out of starters.  The hitters have made such progress.  I just want to see them pitch good, keep us in the game and give us a chance to win the game,"

The Reds offense and defense is not a problem.

The dilemma is when if you've given up two or three runs in the third inning, we've scored three so it's 3-3, you feel like well is he struggling out here." Riggleman said.  "Do I keep watching it?  Should we try to win the ball game by putting a fresher arm in and nipping it in the bud right there?  Ideally, you let them keep pitching but it's September, it's not May when we're still learning.  We have a lot of data that says the batting average the third time through the lineup and sometimes it is in the fourth, is like .350, .375, .380.  Those aren't my numbers.  I'm not fighting it.  I'm not going to say that it won't happen today.  It's happened too many times."

Riggleman believes he should put the best lineup out there every day, even if the Reds are out of the race.

"I'm not worrying about seeing guys play," Riggleman said.  "I like putting the regulars out there as long as they feel good.  Any day Scooter (Gennett) needs a day off because he has something going on with his thigh, he's out there.  I've had to tone it down a little bit.  There's been some 3-2 counts, I haven't had him going.  I haven't asked him to bust it down the line each time.  Basically, when Joey and Scooter and Billy are fit to go, I want them in there.  People pay to see them play.  I don't like when fans come to the ball park, they drive 75 miles to come to the ball game to see their favorites and they're not out there.