Dan Straily will get the series-opening start for the Cincinnati Reds against the Colorado Rockies on Monday.
The 27-year-old soft tosser replaces an ineffective Tim Melville, who was blasted in his second start of the season.
Straily was a late add to the Reds’ roster this spring after he was traded by the Houston Astros and then waived by the San Diego Padres.
Straily may have started the season in the Reds’ rotation if he had pitched for the Reds during Cactus League games. He did throw 12 innings for the Astros in Grapefruit League action.
The Reds have used Straily in middle relief for three games this year. He has a 3.24 ERA and 0.840 WHIP in 8.1 innings. He’s allowed just three hits. He’s also struck out eight and walked four.
Straily has twice entered games to replace Melville. The first time he threw three scoreless innings. The second time he threw three innings and gave up just one hit, which was a solo homer.
Straily fills a void in the Reds’ rotation that will soon change. How well Straily pitches in his debut start of the 2016 season may determine whether or not he remains a rotation candidate or will be relegated to the bullpen.
The Reds will likely have John Lamb returning to the rotation at the end of April once he completes his minor league rehab. Lamb had offseason back surgery that delayed his start to the season.
Staff ace Homer Bailey is also set to return in May from his recovery and rehab from Tommy John surgery.
Straily is faced with the task of stopping a potent Rockies offense that ranks third in the majors in OPS (.865) this young season. The start will mark third appearance by Straily at Great American Ball Park. He pitched a four-inning start in 2013 in addition to three innings of relief this year.
Robb Hoff writes about the Cincinnati Reds for OutsidePitch MLB. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
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