John Lamb has a chance to separate himself from the rest of the borderline starters in the Cincinnati Reds‘ rotation. He’ll take the ball tonight against the Cleveland Indians.
Lamb was on his way to helping himself in his last start when a sore thumb knocked him out of the game after just four innings. He allowed one run and two hits in his four innings. It was his second start of the season. In 10 innings this year, he has allowed just two earned runs.
Lamb needed to show he’s capable of rejoining the Reds’ rotation. He missed spring training and started the year on the disabled list due to recovery from offseason back surgery.
Last year, Lamb showed upside but did not quite clinch a spot in this year’s rotation. He had a 5.80 ERA in 10 starts and 49.2 innings last year.
Lamb was included in the Johnny Cueto trade with the Kansas City Royals last year. Among the three left-handed pitchers the Reds received in return for Cueto, expectations for Lamb were less than the other two — Brandon Finnegan and Cody Reed.
Lamb should eventually find his way into the Reds’ bullpen as a left-handed reliever. That time may come sooner rather than later if Lamb can’t keep up with the success of Dan Straily and Tim Adleman in the Reds’ makeshift rotation.
The Reds won’t have to decide on Lamb’s fate as a starter or reliever until one of the Reds’ expected starters returns from the disabled list. Homer Bailey, Raisel Iglesias and Anthony DeSclafani all rank ahead of Lamb for rotation spots. When one of those three returns, one starter in the current rotation will be displaced.
The Reds also have starting pitcher Jon Moscot currently rehabbing at Triple-A. Moscot may be ready to rejoin the Reds within the week. He made three starts for the Reds this year before landing on the DL.
Moscot may also force the move of Lamb to the bullpen unless Lamb can pitch so well as a starter that the Reds just can’t bump him.
Robb Hoff writes about the Cincinnati Reds for OutsidePitch MLB. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
The post John Lamb is pitching for his rotation life with Cincinnati Reds appeared first on OutsidePitchMLB.