The Cincinnati Reds announced on Monday, that left-handed pitcher Sam Moll was being optioned to Triple-A. The roster move comes just a day before starter Frankie Montas is expected to return to the rotation for Tuesday night’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
With Montas coming back, a roster move was imminent. With the Reds having 13 pitchers on the roster already, the move was always going to be a pitcher. Moll being that guy, however, was not so much predictable.
Frankie Montas is Set to Make a Return to the Rotation
On Sunday evening, MLB.com writer Mark Sheldon announced Frankie Montas would be Tuesday night’s starter. Montas has been on the injured list since April 22. In his last start against the Los Angeles Angels, the 31-year-old left in the first inning after taking a line drive to the right forearm.
Montas is 2-2 on the year with a 4.19 ERA. His last full start on April 15 in Seattle really drove up his ERA. He lasted only two innings and surrendered five earned runs. His ERA elevated from 2.16 to 4.34.
With Montas set to be activated before Tuesday’s game, it shakes up the rotation, in a good way. The obvious move to make room in the rotation will be to remove Nick Martinez. Martinez, who signed a free-agent deal with the Reds this winter, has pitched much better out of the bullpen. In three games and nine innings as a reliever, Martinez has posted a 1.00 ERA and limited opponents to hitting just .156. Compare that to his starting numbers of 6.86 and an opponent’s batting average of .337 in 21 innings. Martinez has better filled the Reds needs out of the pen.
Sam Moll Left as the Odd Man Out
Sam Moll was activated from the IL just two weeks ago. But now he finds himself back down in Triple-A in return for Frankie Montas. Moll has looked strong in his two weeks of action. He had yet to allow a run over his five games pitched. But coming off a left shoulder injury, it could be possible he isn’t quite 100 percent. Across all three pitches Moll throws, the four-seam, sinker, and sweeper, he has seen a decrease in velocity for all three. He is averaging roughly three miles an hour slower than he was throwing last year. Perhaps a trip to the minor leagues could help gain his velocity back.
Make no mistake, however, Moll was not the most deserving candidate to be replaced by Frankie Montas. Despite his drop in velocity, Moll had been one of the better arms out of the pen. It seems as if he just drew the short end of the stick. Alexis Díaz and Fernando Cruz were the only other bullpen pitchers on the roster with options. It was never likely either of them would have been sent down.
Pitching has been a bright spot for the Reds this season. But, structuring their staff with Frankie Montas in the rotation and Martinez in the pen makes it even stronger.