Cincinnati Reds: Bailey’s return could bolster slumping rotation

Homer Bailey hasn’t pitched much during the past two years. But after finally recovering from a slew of surgeries, the starter will return Saturday, just in time to help a team sitting at the bottom of its division.

Homer Bailey is back.

After missing essentially two years due to consecutive surgeries, the starting pitcher is slated to return Saturday against the Nationals, per Reds beat reporter Mark Sheldon.

Bailey tried to pitch through his injuries during the past two years, but was clearly not at his best. The right-hander tossed 34 1/3 innings across eight starts combined, boasting an inflated 6.29 ERA.

Now, after finally recovering, he has a chance to redeem himself.

The starting pitcher cruised through his three starts in the minors, sporting a 1.08 ERA and notching three victories. He whiffed 17 hitters while yielding just three walks through 16 2/3 innings.

Even at 31 years old, Bailey has a significant amount of potential. This is a guy that’s thrown two no-hitters and was in the conversation of being an elite pitcher during his 2013 season, when he posted a 3.49 ERA and compiled 199 strikeouts in just 209 innings.

His repertoire isn’t overpowering, but it’s worked in the past. His fastball sits in the low-90s and he complements it with a changeup, slider and curveball. He’s been prone to the long ball though, surrounding one homer per nine innings on average. With batters crushing more home runs than every, that could be an issue for him once he returns.

More from Call to the Pen

• Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
• Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
• Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
• Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
• 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals

Bailey has never had to be the ace of the Cincinnati staff, but he will have to upon his return.

As many might have been expected, the team’s starting rotation is finally showing its true colors. The Reds’ staff has the worst ERA in the league and the second-worst BAA at .284, just slightly better than the Orioles. No starting pitcher that has tossed more than 10 innings this season owns an ERA below four.

Amir Garrett dazzled in his first few starts, but his inexperience has finally shown – he currently possesses an uninspiring 7.41 ERA. And the Bronson Arroyo project worked for a few starts, but now the old-timer is on the disabled list and may not return this year.

Tim Adleman and Scott Feldman have held down their spots, but neither of the two have been great, despite eating up a ton of innings. The team’s best pitchers have been former starting pitchers. Raisel Iglesias has been one of the best closers in the National League, while Michael Lorenzen has been a lockdown setup guy.

Next: Brandon Finnegan to rejoin Reds' rotation

Needless to say, having Bailey back in the rotation will bolster a squad that is 1-9 in its last 10 bouts. It may not turn Cincinnati’s season around, but he could at least help lower the team’s horrific ERA.