MILWAUKEE It’s not a terrible thing for the Reds to leave Milwaukee and head west to start a series against San Francisco on Monday. Additionally, this week may be crucial for the team’s performance on the field, injury report, and future roster choices.
The Reds lost 8-2 to the Brewers on Sunday at American Family Field, dropping three of four games. Since 2021, Milwaukee has defeated the Reds in 15 of the last 17 series and all 11 of the previous 11 series.
Time to turn the page, and do it quickly.
“All divisional games kind of matter so it stinks losing three out of four to these guys. But we’ve got to move on. We’ve got San Fran right now, so worry about them,” said starting pitcher Carson Spiers, who gave up four earned runs and five hits over 3 1/3 innings.
While the Reds had their hands full with the Brewers, notable things were happening in Omaha on Sunday afternoon. That’s where starting pitcher Andrew Abbott and closer Alexis Díaz were working in rehab assignments for Triple-A Louisville.
In 4 1/3 innings and 92 pitches, Abbott gave up two earned runs and four hits with three walks, four strikeouts and a home run.
Abbott, who is working back from a left shoulder strain that ended his 2024 season six weeks early, won’t join the Reds in San Francisco since his turn to pitch doesn’t come. The lefty will work a side bullpen session in Louisville on Tuesday, and the Reds will need to make a decision whether to give Abbott another rehab start or activate him.
Activating Abbott likely moves Spiers out of the rotation, and pushes him to either the bullpen or Louisville. Spiers won the fifth starter’s job in camp after the club decided to have Abbott open on the IL. He had a strong first start of one run and three hits over six innings in a loss to Texas on Tuesday.
Regarding Díaz, he has already recovered from the slight injury of his left hamstring sustained during Spring Training. He walked two hitters and struck out two in a scoreless inning on Friday in his first rehab game. He threw 22 pitches on Sunday, giving up one unearned run, one hit, one walk, and one strikeout.
If Díaz returns, there doesn’t seem to be any assurance that he would regain his closer’s role.
When asked about the scenario, manager Terry Francona said, “I always think that you try to put your best team out there.”
In light of Díaz’s lack of performance throughout camp, the team is extending his rehabilitation assignment by two games in the upcoming week.
We didn’t feel like he was ready, physically, which I think he agrees with,” Francona said. “He’s going to pitch today and he’ll go back with Louisville and pitch at least a couple of more times. Maybe even a back-to-back Wednesday and Thursday just because he needs to get in sync and he understands that. I think he actually agrees with it.
“We would like him to be in that role, but he needs to be ready to be in that role.”
