CINCINNATI -- It was a setback for Reds pitcher Anthony DeSclafani on Thursday during his rehab assignment start, but it appears not to be a catastrophic one. DeSclafani underwent an MRI and a medical exam on Friday, and he was diagnosed with tendinitis in his right elbow.
The ulnar collateral ligament that DeSclafani sprained in Spring Training did not need surgery, team medical director Dr. Tim Kremchek told the right-hander. But DeSclafani has decided to seek a second opinion.
"It was best-case scenario that the UCL looked the same. It's just inflammation," DeSclafani said. "I guess the plan is, right now, to take a few days [off]. Hopefully the pain subsides, and I can start throwing here pretty shortly."
When DeSclafani began his second rehab assignment start for Class A Dayton on Thursday, he knew something was wrong two pitches into the game. He tried to push through it, but he came out after 23 pitches. Only one out was recorded, and he allowed eight earned runs and eight hits, including three home runs.
"The fourth pitch, it pretty much just flared up pretty good," DeSclafani said. "I wasn't able to finish pitches. I was just leaving stuff up."
In his previous start for Dayton, DeSclafani threw four scoreless innings, and he had a fastball touching 95-96 mph with solid arm strength. Manager Bryan Price understood that it's sometimes difficult to explain how quickly the optimism from that outing can turn to pain and concern.
"It's frustrating, but that's how it works. Tendinitis doesn't kind of slowly creep on. When it grabs you, it grabs you," Price said. "I've had that several times, in the shoulder and in the elbow, and it's unbelievably painful and uncomfortable. As much as it doesn't require a surgery, it does require the respect of really stopping your throwing program and getting the tendinitis under control before you resume it."
DeSclafani hoped he could still pitch for the Reds before the season ends.
"I think I'm going to say that I can pitch this year, because it will help me stay in a positive frame of mind," DeSclafani said. "That's what I'm going to look forward to, getting back on the mound here, pitching for this team. Is it realistic? I have no idea. I would like to say it is, that's for sure. That's what I am striving for."

Schebler regrets playing through injury
Right fielder Scott Schebler, who was placed on the 10-day disabled list Tuesday with bruises in his left rotator cuff, reported feeling better on Friday. Schebler, who is on anti-inflammatory medicine, tried to play with soreness after initially hurting his shoulder while trying to make a diving catch in June vs. the Cardinals.
But Schebler eventually struggled, batting .136 in July and .077 since the All-Star break.
"At the end of the day, I blame myself for not saying something earlier," Schebler said. "That's on me. I feel bad for the guys because they had to watch me struggle, and I could have said something earlier and gotten this taken care of earlier. It's a lot on my shoulders because they can't read minds, obviously. That is one regret I have, that's something I'll learn for the future."
The soreness had affected Schebler's swing, and it likely contributed to his struggles.
"It's one of those things that the flexibility in my back shoulder was really bad," Schebler said. "I couldn't get my arm back on my swing. I felt like I got to a certain point, and I couldn't go any further. I had to swing at a certain moment. I don't think I drove a ball to the opposite field for a month, it felt like."
Worth noting
The Reds acquired Minor League outfielder Randy Ventura from the Braves on Friday in exchange for international bonus pool space. Ventura batted .294 with a .338 on-base percentage and 29 steals this season for Class A Rome.