Minor's future in Reds' rotation uncertain

CINCINNATI -- Speculation about the Reds' Trade Deadline plans has focused on the top two starters in their rotation -- Luis Castillo and Tyler Mahle. Less has been said about veteran left-hander Mike Minor, who has postseason experience but not a strong 2022 on his resume.

Minor had pitched better in some recent starts, but Saturday's performance in a 6-3 Reds loss to the Cardinals at Great American Ball Park certainly didn't boost his value. In four innings while throwing 85 pitches, he allowed five earned runs and eight hits with four walks (two intentional), three strikeouts and two homers.

"Tonight, I didn’t feel great from the get-go," Minor said. "I didn’t feel like the location was there, and I didn’t feel like the pitches were there. I knew it was going to be a grind with that lineup, a lot of good hitters over there, and they don’t give in. They hit good pitches and hit bad pitches. It doesn’t matter."

Over nine starts this season, Minor is 1-7 with a 6.65 ERA after missing the first two months with a shoulder injury. His lone victory came on June 13 at Arizona.

Entering the night, opposing hitters batted .197 vs. Minor the first time through the lineup and .359 the second time. That trend remained firm against the St. Louis lineup through two scoreless innings before eight batters came up in the third inning. The first four reached on hits, including RBI singles by Tyler O’Neill and Paul Goldschmidt to make it a 2-0 game.

"Mike, if anything, just kind of was missing his spots,” Reds manager David Bell said. "Had to come back to the middle a few times and they didn't miss it when he did. Yeah, kind of a tough night after the first inning."

Brandon Drury hit a game-tying, two-run double in the bottom of the third inning, but Minor couldn't keep it even. Back-to-back homers from Tyler O'Neill and Paul Goldschmidt put the Reds behind, 5-2, during another eight-batter inning in the fourth.

"I missed a lot over the plate," Minor said. "A lot of pitches where I was trying to go one side and it was on the other side. They were pitches I knew not to throw, but I left them over the plate. My changeup wasn’t good early on. Then I didn’t throw many sliders or curveballs. Fastball location was pretty bad."

Cincinnati is currently employing a six-man rotation coming out of the All-Star break with Castillo, Mahle, Minor and rookies Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo and Graham Ashcraft. That is almost sure to change in some fashion after the Trade Deadline on Aug. 2.

If the Reds only move Castillo, they would likely bring up Justin Dunn -- who was acquired from the Mariners in March's trade for Jesse Winker and Eugenio Suárez. That could mean a shift to the bullpen for Minor, who is making $10 million this season. Once the team cleared payroll by dealing Suárez, they acquired Minor from the Royals for reliever Amir Garrett.

Minor was expected to be an innings-eater but has pitched a season-high 6 1/3 innings just twice.

Dunn made his sixth rehab assignment start for Triple-A Louisville on Saturday as he works his way back from a 2021 shoulder injury.

Should both Castillo and Mahle be dealt, the 34-year-old Minor could have a better chance of remaining in the rotation. But much will depend on the return the Reds get, and clearly, they are looking to a future with pitchers who will be around after the 2022 season.

One bright spot in the loss for the Reds came in the bottom of the seventh inning. Rookie catcher Mark Kolozsvary, who was recalled on Saturday from Louisville for the fourth time this season after Tyler Stephenson went on the injured list, slugged his first Major League home run.

Batting against Cardinals reliever Junior Fernández, Kolozsvary hit an 0-2 slider into the left-field seats.

"That’s something that is really cool. Something growing up, you think about and you dream about," Kolozsvary said. "For it to really come true is really awesome."

During his three earlier big league stints, Kolozsvary was 1-for-11.

"He’s worked so hard to get to this point," Bell said. "Batting practice isn’t everything, but I was watching him in BP and he was just driving the ball all over the field, and he took it into the game. He did a real nice job behind the plate. It’s good to see Kolo get this opportunity. He’s definitely prepared and anxious to make the most of it. Definitely something he’ll remember for the rest of his life."