The Reds placed Josh Fogg on the 15-day DL with a sore back Sunday and called up right-handed reliever Gary Majewski. The move leaves Cincinnati with more uncertainty over its fifth starter's spot.
Fogg was handed the No. 5 spot in the rotation back after Matt Belisle was sent down earlier in the week, but the 31-year-old right hander got hit hard again Saturday as he allowed seven hits and six runs in 3 1/3 innings of an 8-7 victory over Atlanta. After the game, Fogg complained about back spasms.
"We need some pitching help bad," manager Dusty Baker said. "We can't wait."
Fogg started the season in the rotation, but was demoted to long relief after three poor starts. He went 15 days between appearances out of the bullpen.
The Reds optioned Belisle to Triple-A on Tuesday to turn him into a reliever and is not an option for a return. That leaves the question who will pitch on Thursday in Philadelphia against Cole Hammels?
Though Jeremy Affeldt could be given a spot start or perhaps the team looks at other minor league options (i.e. Matt Maloney), but my money is on Homer Bailey. Bailey has struggled of late, but there seem to be too many pieces of the puzzle falling in place to suggest it will not be him.
Reds' beat writer Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News certainly thinks so. He reports on his blog that Bailey was scheduled to pitch for the Class AAA Louisville Bats Sunday night
and will, but he is expected to pitch only two innings and take the rest
of the night off.
Whomever makes the start for the Reds on Thursday will have to square off against Hamels. The Phillies' left-handed ace has dominated the Reds in his short career (see below).
HAMELS THREE STARTS VS. REDS
2008: 1-0, 7 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 4 K's
2007: 1-0, 9 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 15 K's
2006: 0-0, 5 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 5 BB, 7 K's
Totals: 2-0, 21 IP, 2 ER, 11 H, 10 BB, 26 K's - 0.86 ERA, 0.95 WHIP
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