Gray back, De Leon moves to Reds’ bullpen
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Sonny Gray said he discussed different return plans with the coaching staff, including pitching on the West Coast trip.
But when the Reds 2020 Opening Day starter makes his season debut in 2021, Gray doesn’t want to feel any hesitation after he recovered from back spasms.
“Once you’re back, you’re back,” Gray said. “There’s not like a four-inning buildup when you’re back, or a five-inning buildup. When you come back, you hit the ground running — let’s go. That’s kind of where we’re at with that.”
Gray will return to the Reds starting rotation on Saturday against Cleveland. He pitched in his only spring training game of 2021 on March 4 before a setback with back spasms. .
Gray said he won’t be on a pitch count on Saturday. He’ll join a starting rotation that will benefit from adding a top of the rotation pitcher.
Jeff Hoffman will start game one against Cleveland, followed by Gray on Saturday and Wade Miley on Sunday. The Reds placed Michael Lorenzen on the 60-day injured list on Wednesday, so the starting rotation going forward will include Hoffman, Gray, Miley, Luis Castillo and Tyler Mahle.
José De León will move to the bullpen. In his most recent start on Sunday, De León allowed six runs in 41⁄3 innings. But De León has shown potential, striking out 18 batters in two starts.
Votto is crushing fastballs
After the first two weeks of the season, Joey Votto said he needed to take better advantage of the fastballs pitchers threw against him.
Entering Tuesday’s game against the San Francisco Giants, opposing pitchers were throwing Votto fastballs about 15 percent less often than they did in 2020.
In the first inning on Tuesday, Votto took a fastball for a strike. Later in the count, Giants starter Kevin Gausman gave Votto a 95 mph four-seamer, and Votto drove that pitch over the left field fence to give Cincinnati its first lead of the game.
On both Monday and Tuesday night against the Giants, Votto homered off a fastball and delivered on his plan.
Akiyama progressing
In seven to 10 days, outfielder Shogo Akiyama (hamstring) will likely play in his first game since March 13.
Akiyama injured his hamstring during spring training, and he has been working at the Reds alternate site in triple-a Louisville.