Cincinnati Reds confident about Johnny Cueto’s start on Tuesday, but remain cautious – MLB News
The Cincinnati Reds' manager Dusty Baker said on Sunday, July 15, that the club was confident about Johnny Cueto’s start on Tuesday, but will wait to see the progress he makes. Johnny Cueto could not have a start in Sunday’s game due to a blister on his right index finger.
Reds had to bring in Homer Bailey to replace the ace starter, Cueto. The decision, as the result of the third-game between the Reds and the St. Louis Cardinals showed, was a timely one as Cincinnati swept the three-game series.
Cincinnati are being extraordinarily cautious as far as bringing Cueto is concerned because they do not want to take any risk given the wonderful performance of the ace starter.
"If he doesn't have a throw day, how many throws can you have arm strength-wise?" Baker said. "It doesn't take your body very long to get out of tip-top shape. We certainly don't need him to go out there and not go very long and don't need to try to go out there and compensate and maybe end up hurting something else."
However, there are a few considerations, if not challenges, that the Reds have to address on an urgent basis. Since the start of the season, wherein the Reds have so far played 87 games, they have only used five starters.
The continued absence of ace starter, at a time when the Reds retain the first spot in the National League Central, could be discomforting and consequential. That fact is recognised by the team manager and he does not really know what lies ahead.
"We're sure hoping [he can pitch], because if not, we don't know what our backup plan is yet," Baker said. "We haven't even discussed one. Right now, it's just a situation where we've just got to see where he is."
The sooner Cueto returns, the better it is for the Reds given the strength, power and force he injects in the defence. Provided he fails to appear on the mound soon, this will spell worry, if not disaster, for the resurgent Cincinnati Reds.
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