CINCINNATI -- The Reds revealed on Tuesday that Johnny Cueto has been diagnosed with a mild right oblique strain. His availability for the National League Division Series, or for the remainder of the playoffs, remains unknown.
Despite the Reds holding a 2-0 series lead over the Giants, Tuesday's Game 3 may have grown in importance to Cincinnati given the injury to their ace starting pitcher, which could result in him being unable to start Game 4, or worse, lead to him being removed from the roster for the remainder of the current series and the next one.
Cueto was originally diagnosed with back spasms after he exited Game 1 only eight pitches into his start at San Francisco on Saturday. Normally for pitchers, oblique injuries are on the non-throwing side, from where they get their power. Since Cueto is right-handed, that would usually mean a left oblique injury. But Cueto has a funky delivery during which he twists away from the plate.
"That's why when it first happened, we were trying to figure out what was going on, because it didn't make sense to be a same-side oblique," Reds head trainer Paul Lessard said.
Cueto, who was 19-9 with a 2.78 ERA in 33 regular-season starts without an injury, is undergoing treatment to try to be able to pitch.
"We're still throwing the kitchen sink at him right now," Lessard said.
"They said he's getting better, but we don't know what better is," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "That's a volatile area. You've seen the obliques, sometimes they hang around for a while, and sometimes they don't hang around for a while. We don't know the severity of it. He came in [Monday] and got treatment all day long, so right now I would just be guessing to let you know how he is exactly right now. In a nutshell, we don't know. "
That means the club does not know how to gauge whether Cueto might be available for a Game 4 on Wednesday if it's necessary. It's possible that Mat Latos could return on three days rest. Latos worked four innings after Sam LeCure immediately replaced Cueto in Game 1.
"We've got to talk about it and see how Johnny is," Baker said. "A lot of guys here would be on less than full rest. We hope we don't have to talk about it at all."
It appears that disabling Cueto is an option that is at least on the table. If that were done, Cueto would not be eligible for the NL Championship Series if the Reds advance.
"We're trying not to," Baker said of replacing Cueto. "We're seeing if we can avoid doing that. He wouldn't be available the next series. But if it's unavoidable, then that's something different. We're weighing our options."
If Cueto has to be replaced, right-hander Mike Leake, who is not on the Division Series roster, has been preparing since the regular season ended for this type of contingency.
"He'd be the one," Baker said.
You tryin to be a hero fool? You wanna see badass mother fucker?! I'll show ya a badass!!!
Well if anything should be known about the reds this season it's that they are extremely resilient. They don't hang their head somebody else just steps up
You tryin to be a hero fool? You wanna see badass mother fucker?! I'll show ya a badass!!!
drinkwine732Posts: 20,418destroyer of motherfuckers
Just like every good championship team has in the past, the pitcher the Giants have chosen for game 4 to keep them alive...................Barry Zito........... #-o
Comments
CINCINNATI -- The Reds revealed on Tuesday that Johnny Cueto has been diagnosed with a mild right oblique strain. His availability for the National League Division Series, or for the remainder of the playoffs, remains unknown.
Despite the Reds holding a 2-0 series lead over the Giants, Tuesday's Game 3 may have grown in importance to Cincinnati given the injury to their ace starting pitcher, which could result in him being unable to start Game 4, or worse, lead to him being removed from the roster for the remainder of the current series and the next one.
Cueto was originally diagnosed with back spasms after he exited Game 1 only eight pitches into his start at San Francisco on Saturday. Normally for pitchers, oblique injuries are on the non-throwing side, from where they get their power. Since Cueto is right-handed, that would usually mean a left oblique injury. But Cueto has a funky delivery during which he twists away from the plate.
"That's why when it first happened, we were trying to figure out what was going on, because it didn't make sense to be a same-side oblique," Reds head trainer Paul Lessard said.
Cueto, who was 19-9 with a 2.78 ERA in 33 regular-season starts without an injury, is undergoing treatment to try to be able to pitch.
"We're still throwing the kitchen sink at him right now," Lessard said.
"They said he's getting better, but we don't know what better is," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "That's a volatile area. You've seen the obliques, sometimes they hang around for a while, and sometimes they don't hang around for a while. We don't know the severity of it. He came in [Monday] and got treatment all day long, so right now I would just be guessing to let you know how he is exactly right now. In a nutshell, we don't know. "
That means the club does not know how to gauge whether Cueto might be available for a Game 4 on Wednesday if it's necessary. It's possible that Mat Latos could return on three days rest. Latos worked four innings after Sam LeCure immediately replaced Cueto in Game 1.
"We've got to talk about it and see how Johnny is," Baker said. "A lot of guys here would be on less than full rest. We hope we don't have to talk about it at all."
It appears that disabling Cueto is an option that is at least on the table. If that were done, Cueto would not be eligible for the NL Championship Series if the Reds advance.
"We're trying not to," Baker said of replacing Cueto. "We're seeing if we can avoid doing that. He wouldn't be available the next series. But if it's unavoidable, then that's something different. We're weighing our options."
If Cueto has to be replaced, right-hander Mike Leake, who is not on the Division Series roster, has been preparing since the regular season ended for this type of contingency.
"He'd be the one," Baker said.
Giants just took the lead