Cessa's start highlights weakness in back of Reds' rotation

CINCINNATI -- The Reds have every reason to be pleased with the young top three of their rotation through three starts. But there's been too much calamity from the fourth and fifth starters, and it's been on display this weekend vs. the Phillies.

Luis Cessa was roughed up in a big way while giving up 11 earned runs and 14 hits during Sunday's 14-3 Cincinnati loss to Philadelphia, which split the four-game series. It was 9-0 after the top of the first inning.

"I think it was the worst inning of my career," Cessa said.

Through three starts, the trio of Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo and Graham Ashcraft has a combined 2.70 ERA with 67 strikeouts and three home runs allowed over 50 innings.

The duo of fourth starter Connor Overton and Cessa has a 12.52 combined ERA with 12 strikeouts and six homers allowed over just 23 innings in their three outings. After one turn through the rotation, the club wedged Ashcraft between Overton and Cessa so the bullpen wouldn't risk getting taxed on consecutive days.

Two pitches into Sunday's game, the Phillies had a 1-0 lead on Bryson Stott's leadoff homer to right field. Cessa faced 14 batters in the top of the first inning while throwing 39 pitches and giving up nine runs, eight hits and two walks before the Reds even had a turn to bat.

"That’s a tough inning," Reds manager David Bell said. "I know [Cessa] has been doing this for a long time. Every player goes through days like that, but it’s tough because these guys are trying to perform for their team. They are trying to perform for themselves and their family. You have an inning like that, it’s hard to swallow."

The last Reds pitcher to allow 11 earned runs was Jimmy Anderson on June 26, 2003, at St. Louis. The last Red to give up 14 hits was Alfredo Simon on May 17, 2016, at Cleveland.

No Major League pitcher had given up at least 11 earned runs and 14 hits in the same game since Jason Marquis (12 ER, 14 hits) on July 18, 2006, for the Cardinals vs. Atlanta.

"When you’re out there, you’re saying, ‘Oh my god, what’s going on? What happened?’ I made good pitches," Cessa said. "They had a really good inning on me. A really tough day. I’ll try to keep working, clean it up and change the page for the next one.”

Cessa -- who is 0-2 with a 13.50 ERA -- took one for the team and kept pitching. He worked into the fourth inning, in part, because the taxed Reds bullpen worked 18 outs during Friday's 6-2 loss. In that game, Overton lasted only three innings, and long man Kevin Herget threw 44 pitches in 2 2/3 innings.

"It was just one thing after another. Anything that could go wrong, did," Reds catcher Luke Maile said. "I was really proud of the way [Cessa] handled it, he covered as many innings as he possibly could and then there was still more to come. They were still grounding balls that were kind of skirting through. He didn't quit, he gave as much as he had, and he'll bounce back, I'm sure."

On Saturday, Overton went on the 15-day injured list with a right elbow strain. To take his spot in the rotation, beginning Wednesday, Luke Weaver is expected to be activated from the injured list after he had a right elbow flexor strain during Spring Training. Weaver has made two rehab assignment starts at Triple-A Louisville.

Cessa's velocity appeared down a tick, according to Statcast, but the right-hander insisted he felt healthy.

"Physically, I feel good. My mechanics were good," Cessa said.

Cessa, who worked hard in the offseason to compete for and win a rotation spot, posted a 4.30 ERA in 10 starts in 2022 after moving from the bullpen. He will likely continue to start.

"We’ve seen him really good. He’s a good pitcher," Bell said. "I know he has struggled so far, it’s very early. We’re always evaluating what is best for our team, but the main thing is making sure his stuff and him are physically OK. As long as that’s the case, you have to trust these guys are going to be who they are over the long haul. That’s kind of where we are with it today."