Reds Roster Moves: News and Analysis

by — August 9, 2020 in Transactions

The Reds dropped important roster and assignment news before today’s game.

Mike Moustakas

News: Reds place Mike Moustakas on the 10-day IL backdated to Thursday.

Analysis: That means Mike Moustakas can’t play until a week from today at the earliest. Moustakas hasn’t appeared in a game since Tuesday, August 8. Players can be backdated on the IL to the day after their last appearance. But for the 10-day IL, backdating has a maximum of three days. That’s why Moustakas is backdated to Thursday instead of Wednesday. Christian Colon and Kyle Farmer have been covering second base with Moustakas out of action and Josh VanMeter having been optioned to Prasco Park in Mason. 

TeJay Antone

News: Reds recall Tejay Antone from the Alternate Training Site in Mason.

Analysis: Tejay Antone’s return was a certainty once the club had an opening and the pitcher finished his recuperation from his start on Wednesday. It’s being reported that he won’t join the team in Milwaukee today. That makes sense since he couldn’t pitch today anyhow and it’s the final game of the road trip. Antone will be in Cincinnati, ready for the home stand on Tuesday. Good news for him: Because Antone didn’t spent 20 days out of the majors, he won’t lose service time for the days he was off the active roster.

Starting Rotation

The Reds have announced the starting rotation for next week’s games:

  • Tuesday – Luis Castillo
  • Wednesday – Wade Miley
  • Thursday – Anthony DeSclafani
  • Friday – Sonny Gray
  • Saturday – Trevor Bauer

Analysis: Miley returns from the IL to make his second start after an ineffective first start. There has been chatter that Tyler Mahle may be set up to pitch in that game after Miley. Mahle has made two terrific start in Miley’s absence. Castillo, DeSclafani and Gray will stay on normal schedule. But Trevor Bauer has been pushed back two days, with no reason given for that yet.

R. Stephenson

Robert Stephenson (mid-back strain) is also on the IL and eligible to return when healthy.

Steve Mancuso

Steve Mancuso is a lifelong Reds fan who grew up during the Big Red Machine era. He’s been writing about the Reds for more than ten years. Steve’s fondest memories about the Reds include attending a couple 1975 World Series games, being at Homer Bailey’s second no-hitter and going nuts for Jay Bruce at Clinchmas. Steve was also at all three games of the 2012 NLDS, but it’s too soon to talk about that.

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