Reds relievers stay ready; Big step for Votto

In Friday’s 9-4 win over the Brewers, Reds reliever Tejay Antone entered with one out and runners on second and third in the top of the seventh.

Cincinnati led 6-3 at that point, but Milwaukee had already scored twice in the inning and was threatening for more. Despite allowing an RBI groundout to Christian Yelich, Antone struck out Omar Narváez with a 100.2 mph sinker to limit the damage.

Antone’s previous outing before Friday was on May 16 at Colorado, when he earned his second save of the season as the fifth reliever out of the ‘pen in the Reds’ 7-6 win. Two outings before that, Antone was called in on May 12 with two outs in the bottom of the fifth against Pittsburgh. The Pirates had just tied the game at 1 and had runners at the corners, but Antone got a strikeout to end the inning and then pitched a clean sixth.

If that sounds like a reliever without a concrete role, it isn’t just because Antone is only in his second big league season.

Reds manager David Bell made it clear on Sunday how he likes to use his relievers: rather than give them specific innings they can expect to pitch, he instead communicates specific situations he feels fit a pitcher's strengths best. In that way, Bell doesn’t have to spend time worrying about who could bridge the gap between his starter and his late-inning arms. He can instead just see what the situation on the field looks like.

“When guys are available, and it makes sense given the situation of a game, I think the roles based on innings are not as important as situations that come up in the game, leverage situations,” Bell said. “Just being able to use our relievers like that really has allowed us to win more games, I believe.”

Bell doesn’t even have the traditional set closer, instead letting the situation determine who he should throw in the ninth. Five relievers have worked in save opportunities, led by Antone and left-hander Amir Garrett at four apiece. Though Bell said he understands how important it still is to have a pitcher who can close out the ninth, what trumps that is having the flexibility to use his high-leverage arms in high-leverage situations at any point in the game.

"He really looks for matchups and tries to get guys into spots where they match up really well with the opposing lineup,” Sean Doolittle said. “And we don't run the bullpen in a way where it's like, 'OK, you're the seventh-inning guy no matter what, you're the eighth-inning guy and you're closer.' On any given night, there's like four or five of us that can pitch those last three or four innings of a game.”

It hasn’t been a seamless implementation of Bell’s philosophy, as Cincinnati relievers went into Sunday with a combined 5.34 ERA (13th in the National League) and 103 walks (one behind St. Louis for the most by a bullpen in the Majors). But it’s a philosophy Bell plans to stick with, and he at least has the support of his bullpen as he does so.

“They understand the situation, and their mindset is to be ready to pitch to help us win a game, and that’s the key to the whole thing,” Bell said. “Communication is obviously important in that, but when you have a group of guys with a makeup like our bullpen, it makes it really easy to do that.”

Votto ready for 'next step'

On the shelf since May 5 with a fractured left thumb sustained on a hit-by-pitch, first baseman Joey Votto was seen taking ground balls for the first time on Saturday at Great American Ball Park.

It’s a big step up for Votto in his recovery from the injury. Prior to Saturday, Votto had been mostly limited to running the bases or doing light work work at first base without a glove. Bell wasn’t sure on Sunday morning if Votto would accompany the Reds on their road trip to Washington and Chicago this week, instead letting the treatment plan decide his status, but Saturday’s news signaled a positive step.

“He’s either gonna go on the trip or stay, whatever gets him the best treatment and everything,” Bell said. “He’s gonna continue to do baseball stuff, either on the road with us or back here. So he’s ready to take that next step.”