MLB retirement video for Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds legend Joey Votto speaks in Toronto about his retirement from baseball.
With September right around the corner, the Cincinnati Reds are six games (63-69) under .500 and nine games behind in the National League Wild Card standings, it’s time to evaluate the roster and see which players you can count on next spring.
A few months ago, right-handed relief pitcher Fernando Cruz would have been classified as a reliable bullpen pitcher whose splitter is one of the meanest throws in baseball.
Cruz was once one of the Reds’ most reliable pitchers, but since early July he has slumped in 22 relief appearances, posting an ERA of 8.31. Cruz’s ERA hasn’t been below 4.00 since he allowed three earned runs in just ⅓ innings in a July 6 loss to the Detroit Tigers.
With injuries piling up in the Reds’ starting lineup by the day, Cruz will be on the field in Cincinnati’s home opener against the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday night, making his first start of the year.
“The challenge and the goal is to put all of our pitchers in the best possible situations so they can be successful,” said Reds manager David Bell. “We have to get through the game, but in a way that gives us a great chance to win.”
In Tuesday’s 5-4 loss to the A’s, opening hitter Jakob Junis struck out all 12 batters he faced in four perfect innings. Cruz will look to do the same to salvage his good start to the year against an Oakland offense that ranks 27th in away scoring this season at 3.80 runs per game.
Cruz is 0-1 with a 1.42 ERA in four career starts, allowing one earned run on one hit with 11 strikeouts in 6 ⅓ innings.
More: Reds No. 2 prospect will make his MLB debut on Friday against the Brewers
Reds call up Evan Kravetz, Stuart Fairchild goes to 60 days
In addition to the news that Rhett Lowder would make his major league debut on Friday, the Reds also announced that they had selected left-handed pitcher Evan Kravetz from Triple-A Louisville.
Kravetz, Cincinnati’s 2019 fifth-round pick out of Rice, has appeared in 123 career minor league games, posting a 3.98 ERA. Kravetz went 5-3 with a 3.40 ERA in 41 relief appearances with the Louisville Bats this season.
“Kravetz is highly respected in our organization,” Bell said. “He has earned this opportunity.”
The Reds have placed outfielder Stuart Fairchild on the 60-day injured list because he has a UCL sprain in his left thumb that may require surgery, according to Bell. Fairchild last played in Sunday’s 4-3 loss to Pittsburgh. This season, he is batting .215 with eight home runs and 30 RBIs.
