CINCINNATI -- Reds pitcher Jon Moscot's sore left shoulder hadn't gotten worse since it bothered him last week in New York. But it also hadn't gotten much better, which forced the Reds to scratch him from his scheduled start Tuesday vs. the Giants.
John Lamb was activated from the 15-day disabled list and had his rehab assignment at Triple-A Louisville cut short to replace Moscot in the rotation. Reliever Drew Hayes was optioned to Louisville to make room on the roster for Lamb, who was nearing a return anyway following a lengthy rehab from December back surgery.
If there was good news to be had for Moscot, it was he did not have to go on the DL after he underwent an MRI exam with team medical director Dr. Tim Kremchek. Moscot needed surgery to repair a separation in the same shoulder in June.
"Everything in there is structurally fine. It's just a little bit tight," Moscot said. "After the surgery I had, it's to be expected. I've just got to maintain the program I was on. I don't think there is anything to really worry about. It's more cautious tonight not throwing."
Moscot first felt soreness in his non-throwing shoulder during the fifth inning of his start Wednesday vs. the Mets. Until last week, it hadn't been an issue for him this year.
Kremchek gave Moscot a cortisone shot to reduce the inflammation in his shoulder. If he improves soon, he could pitch in a bullpen role until the Reds can slot him back into the rotation.
"We're hoping in the next 24 to 48 hours, he'll be able to pitch," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "We have to make a roster move to get Lamb on there. That could affect our bullpen; we're not really built to go with a short bullpen, so we're going to need him to be able to help us in some way, shape or form in the next 24 to 48 hours, I would say."
It's already been a trying season for Moscot, who is 0-2 with a 4.03 ERA in three starts. His bid to be in the rotation out of camp was foiled by a left intercostal strain that had him start the season on the DL. Now he will have to refocus his efforts on his shoulder.
"It's really just stretching it out a little bit more and getting the mobility I need," Moscot said. "It's nobody's fault but it just wasn't something I was doing. With everything that's been going on, I was focused on my right arm and I kind of forgot about the left arm a little bit. With the major surgery I had, it definitely got to the point where it gets inflamed and gets irritated quicker than a normal shoulder would."