One game after Tejay Antone rejoined the Cincinnati Reds bullpen, Lucas Sims was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a right elbow sprain.
Sims is expected to miss around a month, manager David Bell said, dealing a blow to a bullpen that has posted a 7.05 ERA this month. The good news is that the elbow injury won’t require surgery or shots after it was examined Wednesday.
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“It just wasn’t getting better,” Sims said. “It was manageable for a little bit and then it felt like it was going to get worse before it was going to get better. I figured now would be a good time. Let’s nip this thing in the bud. I got good results (Wednesday). Managed to kind of dodge any sort of serious bullets.”
Sims was delayed at the start of spring training because of right elbow tightness. Despite not pitching in the four-game series against the San Diego Padres last weekend, he was limited to one inning in Monday’s game against the Minnesota Twins.
He pitched again Tuesday, giving up three hits to the three batters he faced, including a home run on his second pitch. Bell said the Reds initially hoped that Sims just slept on his elbow wrong one night in San Diego, but he felt more pain Tuesday.
“It was kind of similar to what I was dealing with in spring, which is why it was a little scary,” Sims said. “For a little bit, it was teetering that line of, can you pitch through it? Is it manageable? It was trending in the wrong direction. Results are best they can be.”
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Was there any concern that the injury could’ve led to season-ending surgery?
“As soon as you're scanned, obviously, that’s what is running through your mind,” Sims said. “It makes you nervous. You don’t know until somebody a lot smarter than you looks at it. It was a little bit of a relief but going on the IL stinks no matter what. Deal with it and we’ll move on.”
Sims owns a 5.02 ERA across 28 relief appearances this season, which is a little inflated because of the runs he’s allowed in extra innings. He’s struck out 44 and walked 15 in 28 2/3 innings.
The Reds played 11 games without Antone and Sims largely filled the closer role. Sims has a team-high seven saves. Without Sims, the Reds will be relying on right-handers Heath Hembree, Brad Brach and Ryan Hendrix to fill innings in high-leverage spots.
“I feel for Lucas,” Bell said. “He’s got a great career ahead of him. He’s shown that over the last year, year and a half. He’s got a long way to go. I know he loves to compete. He loves to win. He loves being a part of this team. So, it’ll be a tough few weeks for him, I’m sure.
“We’re going to have so much ahead of us, even for this year, so kind of looking at the bright side, get it tinkered up now, get him back for the most important part of the year. Unfortunately, so many teams are dealing with injuries, and it does make you really kind of double down on how important everything we do is for keeping guys healthy. I have a feeling we’ll look back this year and that’ll be a really important part of who succeeds at the end of the year.”
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Sims attributed the injury to his workload – “occupational hazard,” he said. After injuries to Antone (forearm inflammation) and Sims, is there concern that the Reds need to approach their top relievers differently?
“I’m pretty aware, and it’s the most important thing to me,” Bell said. “I want to win. We all want to win. But I know in my heart, I never put that ahead of our guys’ health. Number one for their health because I care about them, but also because that’s really important to our team and looking at the big picture is really important. I’m always taking a look at that. I’ll continue to do so.
“I don’t have anything to point out that I feel like I had to change or wish I could have done over or anything like that. You’re always learning, but nothing really stands out to feel that way. I’d be the first to point the finger at myself, I really would. But that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing to be learned from every situation. I think I’ll do that, and it’s an important part of what I do.”
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The Reds recalled outfielder Scott Heineman to fill Sims’ spot on the 26-man roster. Heineman has started exclusively against left-handed pitching this season and the Reds will face Atlanta Braves lefty Drew Smyly on Friday.
REHAB ASSIGNMENTS: Jeff Hoffman made his first rehab start Tuesday at Triple-A Louisville, allowing one hit and one walk across two innings while striking out three.
Hoffman will continue building up as a starter on his rehab assignment. It’s possible that he could return to the Reds in a bullpen role if Vladimir Gutierrez continues to pitch well in the rotation. Hoffman pitched exclusively out of the bullpen last year for the Colorado Rockies.
Sonny Gray was previously scheduled to make a rehab start at Louisville on Thursday, but it was pushed back two days after he woke up Wednesday with a stiff back. Gray threw long toss at Great American Ball Park before Thursday’s game, so it’s not a major concern.
If all goes well with Saturday’s rehab start, Gray is lined up to rejoin the Reds next Thursday.
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