News
Wells steps in for Harang vs. Brewers
Cincinnati (53-71) at Milwaukee (61-64), 8:05 p.m. ET
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
08/26/09 1:27 AM ET
MILWAUKEE -- Through the first 41 games of this season, the Reds' rotation needed only its original five starting pitchers that began the season. Now, it's nearly unrecognizable from its original makeup. Three of the five starters are on the disabled list, and two are out for the rest of the season. That's why manager Dusty Baker is turning to veteran Kip Wells to take Aaron Harang's spot on Wednesday vs. the Brewers. Harang needed to have a season-ending appendectomy on Saturday. "It won't be my first rodeo," Wells said on Tuesday. The Reds will be skipping Micah Owings, who will work out of the bullpen. If he's not needed, Owings could return to start on Saturday vs. the Dodgers. "Especially if Wells is starting tomorrow, I need a long man," Baker said. "We'll see what goes on for Saturday. The Harang thing, the appendectomy, kind of messed up things." Justin Lehr will start on Thursday vs. Milwaukee on his normal rest, and Homer Bailey will take the ball on Friday against the Dodgers. If Owings is used before Saturday, the Reds could turn to a Minor Leaguer, potentially left-hander Matt Maloney. Wells began this season with the Nationals and was released on July 6 after he posted a 6.49 ERA in 23 relief appearances. He was once a starting pitcher with the White Sox and Pirates, but has been used almost exclusively as a reliever the past couple of seasons. In 2008 with the Rockies, Wells made just two starts in the Majors, and the last one was a disaster. On July 21, 2008, vs. the Dodgers, the right-hander lasted only one-third of an inning and allowed eight runs and seven hits while facing 10 batters. Wells, who has been the Reds' long reliever since his callup on July 31, also started one game for Triple-A Louisville this season. He hoped to make it between 75-85 pitches. "You can't throw 75 pitches in two innings, but you can in six innings," Wells said. "It depends on your efficiency and stress level. If I manage my energy right, I should be fine." Wells, who lost a Major League-leading 18 games with Pittsburgh in 2005 and a National League-leading 17 games for St. Louis in 2007, plans to try to simplify things while on the mound for the Reds. "The challenge is to have the same relative thought process -- get ahead and get quick outs," Wells said. "As a reliever, that tends to stay in the front of your mind more. As a starter, you're thinking, 'I have to manage this game.' You start to let other unimportant thoughts get in the way of the simple task of, 'Get this pitch, get this hitter and get this inning.'" Pitching matchupCIN: RHP Kip Wells (0-3, 5.91 ERA)
Wells last pitched for the Reds in relief on Friday vs. the Pirates, tossing two perfect innings with three strikeouts. His longest relief outing was a four-inning stint vs. the Nationals on Aug. 15, when he allowed three runs and five hits with two walks and five strikeouts. MIL: RHP Braden Looper (11-6, 4.95 ERA)
Looper has already faced the Reds four times this season, and he is 3-1 in those games despite a 5.40 ERA. The ERA was skewed by a bad outing on May 7 at Great American Ball Park in which Looper surrendered five runs in 3 1/3 innings. Reds notes
Ryan Hanigan, who was placed on the disabled list on Monday with a concussion, was back in the clubhouse. Hanigan could not travel on Sunday with the team, and he is still experiencing some headaches after he was hit with a foul ball that cracked his helmet and bent a bar in his face mask. "I have a little one," Hanigan said. "It's definitely dissipated. I don't think it's totally gone yet." Hanigan will take a concussion imPACT test in Milwaukee before heading home with the team on Thursday. ... Injured starter Johnny Cueto threw in a bullpen session Tuesday for the first time since he went on the DL on Thursday with right shoulder inflammation. The Reds hope to have Cueto back to pitch in one of the games of the Aug. 31 doubleheader vs. the Pirates. "There's nothing wrong with him," Baker said. "It's equal to him skipping a start or two. His arm feels great. There just wasn't much life in it." Tickets
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• Thursday: Reds (Justin Lehr, 2-1, 3.77) at Brewers (Dave Bush, 3-4, 5.67), 2:05 p.m. ET
• Friday: Reds (Homer Bailey, 3-4, 6.82) vs. Dodgers (Charlie Haeger, 1-1, 1.93), 7:10 p.m. ET
• Saturday: Reds (TBA) vs. Dodgers (Chad Billingsley, 12-7, 3.73), 4:10 p.m. ET
Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
