Reds Surprising Roster Move Clears Way for Returning Starter

With Montas set to be activated before Tuesday’s game, it shakes up the rotation, in a good way. The obvious move to make room in the rotation will be to remove Nick Martinez. Martinez, who signed a free-agent deal with the Reds this winter, has pitched much better out of the bullpen. In three games and nine innings as a reliever, Martinez has posted a 1.00 ERA and limited opponents to hitting just .156. Compare that to his starting numbers of 6.86 and an opponent’s batting average of .337 in 21 innings. Martinez has better filled the Reds needs out of the pen.

Sam Moll Left as the Odd Man Out

Sam Moll was activated from the IL just two weeks ago. But now he finds himself back down in Triple-A in return for Frankie Montas. Moll has looked strong in his two weeks of action. He had yet to allow a run over his five games pitched. But coming off a left shoulder injury, it could be possible he isn’t quite 100 percent. Across all three pitches Moll throws, the four-seam, sinker, and sweeper, he has seen a decrease in velocity for all three. He is averaging roughly three miles an hour slower than he was throwing last year. Perhaps a trip to the minor leagues could help gain his velocity back.

Make no mistake, however, Moll was not the most deserving candidate to be replaced by Frankie Montas. Despite his drop in velocity, Moll had been one of the better arms out of the pen. It seems as if he just drew the short end of the stick. Alexis Díaz and Fernando Cruz were the only other bullpen pitchers on the roster with options. It was never likely either of them would have been sent down.

Pitching has been a bright spot for the Reds this season. But, structuring their staff with Frankie Montas in the rotation and Martinez in the pen makes it even stronger.