Reds Notesbook: Greene, Dugger, and Duarte on the rehab train

The Cincinnati Reds pitching staff could use all of the help it can possibly get right now. With as many injuries as they have they are trying to keep things together with duct tape and super glue. Some help is on the way, though. On Sunday afternoon in Louisville three big league pitchers threw for the Bats on rehab assignments. Hunter Greene got the start in the game, making his third appearance in Triple-A on his rehab stint. He was followed by Robert Dugger and Daniel Duarte – both making their first rehab appearance.

For Hunter Greene it was likely his final rehab start in the minor leagues before he returns to the big league rotation for Cincinnati. The right-handed starter allowed one run on four hits and a walk in 3.0 innings while striking out five batters. He threw 66 pitches with 44 strikes. His outing was extended by a few pitches and his line took a hit after a batted ball seemed right on line for the shortstop, but instead hit the umpire in the stomach and came to a stop on the infield grass for what went down in the scorebook for a single.

If that’s the final rehab start for Greene as expected, he finishes with 15 strikeouts, two walks, and six hits allowed in 7.0 innings pitched. He allowed two runs in that span, good for a 2.57 ERA.

Robert Dugger went on the injured list with the Reds just a few days after Hunter Greene did in early August. After missing the last five weeks he returned to the mound on Sunday and threw a shutout inning. It wasn’t the best looking outing for Dugger, who threw 14 pitches but had just four strikes. Dugger walked two batters, but didn’t give up a hit or a run.

Unlike the other two big leaguers rehabbing with the Bats, Daniel Duarte has been out for a long time. After making the club out of spring training, Duarte his the injured list in mid-April with elbow swelling and didn’t pitch again until yesterday. His outing began well as he got a ground out from the first batter he faced and then got a fly out from the second batter he saw. Things went downhill quickly from there as he gave up a single and back-to-back walks before exiting the game with the bases loaded. The pitcher who followed gave up a grand slam, leaving Duarte with three runs in the box score going against him.

Graham Ashcraft to begin rehab

On Wednesday it’s going to be Graham Ashcraft making a minor league rehab start. The big right-handed starter went on the injured list on August 23rd (retroactive to the 20th) with right biceps soreness. He’s missed the last three weeks but is ready to get back on the mound. He’ll be heading to Chattanooga, Tennessee where he’ll join up with the Double-A Lookouts. The Reds, like many other organizations, prefer to have rehabbing players get their work in at a home facility if possible. With both teams in A-ball now finished for the season that leaves only Louisville and Chattanooga on the field this week, with the Lookouts playing at home and the Bats hitting the road to play in St. Paul Minnesota.