Cincinnati is counting on young starters throughout the rotation and now one of them is already hurt, with right-hander Michael Lorenzen being scratched from today’s scheduled start due to elbow soreness.
Reds manager Bryan Price told Mark Sheldon of MLB.com that Lorenzen was examined by team doctors and the plan is to rest him for “a couple days and then get him back throwing.” For now at least the injury is considered minor enough that Lorenzen hasn’t had an MRI exam.
Lorenzen was the Reds’ first-round draft pick in 2013 and made his MLB debut last season with a 5.40 ERA and 83/57 K/BB ratio in 113 innings spent mostly as a starter. He’s competing for a spot in the Opening Day rotation at age 24, so even a little time on the sidelines might ruin his chances.