Cincinnati Reds have an unusually high number of pitcher injuries in 2016

With only two starters set to make every start this season, the Cincinnati Reds have to figure out why their pitchers keep getting injured.

Heading into spring training the Cincinnati Reds had a starting rotation of Homer Bailey-Anthony DeSclafani-Brandon Finnegan-Raisel Iglesias-Michael Lorenzen. Only Finnegan and Iglesias started their first starts before being injured. Only Finnegan of the starting five made all of his starts this year. The other four all spent time on the disabled list.

The Reds back filled the rotation with Alfredo Simon, John Lamb, and Dan Straily. Straily became the number five starter and made every start this year, while being the Reds’ most consistent starter. Meanwhile, injuries shut down Simon for the second time this season, after he joined the bullpen. Lamb in his own right was below replacement level in production.

Injuries impacted the bullpen as well.

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After the injuries came and went, Iglesias and Lorenzen returned to the bullpen. That’s after both missed about half of the season. The pen included a struggling J.J. Hoover, a short-term Steve Delabar and an elongated visit by Keyvius Sampson at various points throughout the season. Simon briefly worked in the bullpen after his first stint on the DL, but quickly re-injured himself.

Looking forward to 2017, Cingrani, Jumbo Diaz, Finnegan, Stephenson, Straily, and Wood are the only players to stay healthy all year in 2016. Diaz started the season as the set-up man for Hoover, but struggled and made several trips to the minors.

So who do the Reds count on in 2017? They count on the players who they thought they could this year and those who came through in the clutch. The rotation is likely: Bailey-DeSclafani-Finnegan-Stephenson-Straily. The bullpen is likely a combination of Cingrani, Iglesias, Lorenzen, and Wood. Ohlendorf will be playing elsewhere next year, while youngsters like Smith and Diaz get one more chance.

The front office remembers the injuries. Lefties John Lamb and Cody Reed are both missing valuable experience right now thanks to injuries. The Reds don’t have the depth for these sorts of injuries.