MILWAUKEE — The most important result for the Cincinnati Reds of Sunday’s 1-0 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers — beyond getting out of town without any more injuries — might have been the way Ben Lively returned from the injured list.
Even with a four day All-Star break to follow, it’s hard to overstate the significance suggested by the 5 2/3 innings he provided after a two-week layoff.
Only two Reds starters had made even one start that long since Lively was out: Andrew Abbott three times and Graham Ashcraft twice.
In fact, those two and Lively are the only pitchers on the active roster who have gone that deep in a start in the last month.
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And until general manager Nick Krall trades for some veteran help, the Reds’ chances to hold their fragile lead in the NL Central figure to live and die on how much they can squeeze out of the precious few arms able to do that among a group of starters with a collective 5.69 ERA.
“For him to come back after that layoff and really give us every opportunity to win that game, he exceeded expectations,” manager David Bell said. “Not from how he pitched, but just how deep he was able to go in the game. In the end, maybe it’ll benefit us after the break with not a lot of our relievers having to pitch (Sunday).”
That, of course, is the other side of the same coin — taking the pressure off one of the most overworked bullpens in the game.
As the Reds come back Friday from the All-Star break, they — and everybody watching them — know that their exciting young lineup and workhorse bullpen got them this far.
But just as obvious is that the winning can only be sustained over the final 71 games by real improvement in the starting rotation.
To that end, Krall has three weeks and a day before the trade deadline to wrest Lance Lynn or Lucas Giolito from White Sox GM Rick Hahn — or maybe even Max Scherzer from the Mets if he wants to get as aggressive as many of his players about winning.
Meanwhile, the Reds haven’t announced their post-break rotation, but the likely three out of the chute for another three-game showdown with the Brewers at home starting Friday should be Ashcraft, Abbott and Lively.
Lively’s performance Sunday after returning from a pec injury all but assured his role in that mix as the Reds start on the offensive this time around with an “opening” rotation.
“It was definitely weird after a little while, stepping into a big-league game and seeing hitters again after two weeks,” said Lively, who talked about just keeping an aggressive approach Sunday. “It kind of tested me, where my competitiveness is and the way I like to grind. It was good for me.”
And his confidence, he said. And the team’s.
“I know what I’m capable of and feeling great,” he said, “and I’ve just gotta keep riding it.”
He and Abbott, who had his first rough outing Friday against the Brewers, seem to want another crack at the Brewers as soon as possible. And will get it, for better or worse.
In turn, they’ll have a lot to say about the direction this club heads down the stretch — in particular with a gauntlet of contenders filling the first 16 games out of the break, including six in that stretch against the Brewers, four against the Giants and three each against the Diamondbacks and Dodgers.
“I don’t think many of us have been on teams like this,” Lively said about being in first place at the All-Star break, “and we’re ready to get back after the All-Star break already.
“It’s going to be a real special second half.”
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