WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Cincinnati Reds hope to have one starting pitcher back in the rotation by the end of the weekend, but another is lost to injury.
Right-hander Jeff Hoffman was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday morning. He left Wednesday’s start after 1 1/3 innings because of right shoulder soreness.
Hoffman was ineffective in his start against the Washington Nationals, which was suspended midway through the fourth inning because of thunderstorms. He faced 11 batters and recorded only four outs, walking five and allowing two singles.
After issuing a four-pitch walk to Trea Turner and a five-pitch walk to Juan Soto, Hoffman motioned to the dugout for a trainer. Manager David Bell and head trainer Steve Baumann met Hoffman on the mound, and it was a brief chat. Hoffman headed to the clubhouse and his outing was over.
Hoffman had a big drop in velocity, down about 1.5 mph from his season average (93.7 mph). His fastest pitch in the second inning was 92.3 mph. He threw seven pitches above 93 mph in the first inning, topping out at 94.2 mph.
The Reds are hopeful that Wade Miley will start Sunday’s game in Chicago, which is the first day he’s eligible to be activated from the injured list. Miley suffered a left foot injury running out of the batter’s box in his last start.
Vladimir Gutierrez is filling Miley’s spot in the rotation this week and will make his Major League debut Friday against the Chicago Cubs. Gutierrez was in Louisville on Wednesday and will meet the big-league club in Chicago, arriving early because the Reds are playing a night game Thursday against the Nationals.
With Hoffman’s injury, Gutierrez could be around for longer than one spot start. He had a 2-0 record with a 2.65 ERA in three starts at Triple-A this year with 21 strikeouts and seven walks in 17 innings.
“I feel so happy that I got that call,” Gutierrez said, according to team interpreter Jorge Merlos. “Everything I’ve done in the past has been to get to this moment.”
ROSTER MOVES: The Reds promoted lefty reliever Cionel Pérez from Triple-A Louisville to fill Hoffman's spot on the 26-man roster.
Pérez has yielded 12 earned runs on 11 hits and 14 walks in 14 innings.
Right-handed reliever Art Warren was activated as the Reds' 27th man for their second game Thursday as a part of the split doubleheader.
The Reds will have to make another roster move before Friday's game in Chicago to add Gutierrez to the active 26-man roster.
NEW MAN AT FIRST: Tyler Stephenson has been the Reds' regular starter at first base since Mike Moustakas went on the 10-day IL with a right heel contusion.
It's a way to keep Stephenson's bat in the lineup when he's not catching and he's beginning to feel more comfortable with his new position. Stephenson entered Wednesday's suspended game with a .276/.351/.391 slash line.
"Any time you get in the lineup, really, I’m fine with that – more at-bats and stuff," Stephenson said. "Just another weapon you can add to my toolbox or something like that. Who knows moving forward in the future if it could be more regular, I have no idea, but obviously, it’s good to be starting off now."
Stephenson worked with Joey Votto on some of the footwork and positioning during the Reds' last homestand. Stephenson called it "a pretty surreal moment," but it was helpful to learn the intricacies of the position.
"Especially with a righty up, being a lot further from the base, it’s almost like a panic, kind of, any time that happens and you’re so far off the bag," Stephenson said. "You’re like, man, I have to hurry up and get there and beat this guy. There are sometimes you get to the bag, you turn around and the throw is already coming. That’s something that Joey was working with me on."
The one thing that Stephenson has to remind himself at first base is that he shouldn't try to block a ground ball like he's blocking a pitch.
"I know the very first ground ball I got, my first game or so, it was a little cue ball," he said. "I kind of went down to a knee and it kind of bounced off and got away. Just a lot of ground balls, trusting myself and my hands, really. That’s kind of the biggest thing. Just have confidence in it. I know a natural reaction for me is to go down to a knee and block it, but that’s what we have the glove for."
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