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Lucas Sims Out One Month Due To Elbow Sprain

By Steve Adams | June 24, 2021 at 1:55pm CDT

1:55pm: Reds skipper David Bell tells reporters that Sims is expected to miss around a month’s worth of games (Twitter link via Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer).

11:45am: The Reds placed right-hander Lucas Sims on the 10-day injured list due to a right elbow sprain, per a club announcement. Outfielder Scott Heineman is up from Triple-A Louisville to take his spot on the active roster. Sims’ placement on the IL is retroactive to June 23.

Sims has had an up-and-down season but has been the Reds’ most oft-used option in save situations this year. He’s leading the club with seven saves and has also picked up four holds as one of the team’s most prominent high-leverage options.

The 27-year-old Sims got out to a miserable start in 2021, pitching to a 7.20 ERA through his first month of action. But over a span of 16 games from May 5 through June 21, Sims looked like the potentially dominant, breakout reliever he appeared to be last season, posting a 2.41 ERA with a 29-to-8 K/BB ratio in 16 2/3 frames of relief. Sims hit another roadblock in his most recent outing, however, serving up three runs without recording an out.

All told, Sims has gone from a 2.45 ERA in 25 2/3 frames in 2020 to a 5.02 mark through his first 28 2/3 innings in 2021. From a velocity standpoint, he’s actually added about a mile per hour to his heater, and he’s also bumped his strikeout rate from 33 percent to 35 percent. He’s seen a major spike in BABIP (.192 in 2020, .333 in 2021) while his ability to strand runners has taken a nosedive as well.

As is so frequently the case, the reality likely lies somewhere in the middle of those two extremes. Sims unquestionably benefited from that minuscule average on balls in play in 2020, but he’s also surely better than his 2021 ERA would indicate. He’s limiting hard contact quite efficiently, striking out batters in droves and keeping the ball in the yard. His sub-par command ought to lead to occasional hiccups, but taken in totality, his 2020-21 numbers — 3.81 ERA, 3.23 SIERA, 34.1 percent strikeout rate, 11.4 percent walk rate — have the makings of a solid late-inning option for the Reds.

The team hasn’t provided a timetable on Sims’ absence, though obviously any type of elbow injury is a concern for a pitcher. Sprains, in particular, can be ominous. The hope is obviously that it’ll prove to be a minor issue, as the Reds can ill afford to lose a key arm from an already struggling bullpen. The Reds’ relief corps did just receive a boost with the return of its best reliever, Tejay Antone, but the Cincinnati ’pen has collectively pitched to an MLB-worst 5.70 ERA so far in 2021.

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Cincinnati Reds Lucas Sims Scott Heineman

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View Comments (15)
Post a Comment

15 Comments

  1. JoeBrady

    4 years ago

    Anyone know who the current Reds closer is?

    Reply
    • Perksy

      4 years ago

      I think it’s Antone

      2
      Reply
      • swinging wood

        4 years ago

        I’ll be ready.

        4
        Reply
    • Steve Adams

      4 years ago

      They’ll split chances between Amir Garrett and Tejay Antone most likely. Antone is far and away their best reliever, but he’s been working multiple innings with regularity and coming into their highest-leverage spots.

      If Antone is available for a clean ninth inning or maybe a two-inning save I’m sure he’s the preference, but they’d just as soon call on him with a one-run lead and men on base in the sixth inning — especially with that offense. Protect the lead while you have it, and hope the lineup scores more runs to take the pressure off the shakier arms.

      1
      Reply
    • ksoze

      4 years ago

      They don’t have a designated closer, haven’t all season.

      2
      Reply
  2. Monkey’s Uncle

    4 years ago

    A bullpen with a team ERA of 5.70… yikes. They might as well run in from the bullpen carrying cans of gasoline.

    3
    Reply
    • bot

      4 years ago

      Or bring up their talent. Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo are better than 70% of major league pitchers and can both handle several inning work loads

      4
      Reply
      • schellis 2

        4 years ago

        You don’t burn potential front line starters when you need front line starters in the bullpen of a team that will be near .500

        Relievers are easy to find and because of sample sizes some can look great one year and horrible the ne next.

        If the Reds think they have a shot there will be solid relievers available for near AAA roster filler types.

        Let Greene and Lodolo get some AAA time and bring them up next season

        Reply
        • MIKE PAUL

          4 years ago

          nothing gonna help until bell is gone. he has personally cost the team a minimum of 2 and up to 4 games this year on his own. he has no idea how to manage a club.

          Reply
        • jcraft21

          4 years ago

          AGREED 100%

          Reply
      • ksoze

        4 years ago

        Bring Greene and Lodolo, after they get their innings in. After that bring them up, if you want to bolster the pen, while giving them MLB action. The priority for those 2 players are to be ready for 22 as starters.

        Reply
  3. greatgame 2

    4 years ago

    RIP

    Reply
  4. winonarider

    4 years ago

    Santilla

    Reply
    • earmbrister

      4 years ago

      Sangria

      Reply
    • astick

      4 years ago

      Santa

      Reply

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