Chris Paddack is slated to make his first start for the Cincinnati Reds when they face the host Cleveland Guardians on Saturday.
Paddack (0-5, 7.63 ERA) signed a one-year deal as a free agent with the Reds on Wednesday after being designated for assignment by the Miami Marlins and subsequently released.
Injuries this season to pitchers Hunter Greene (elbow), Brandon Williamson (left shoulder) and Rhett Lowder (right shoulder discomfort) led Cincinnati to sign Paddack, 30, an eight-year veteran who split last season between the Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers.
His most recent start was May 3. Paddack was the losing pitcher in a Marlins’ loss to the Philadelphia Phillies in that game, giving up seven runs on six hits and three walks in 2 2/3 innings and was DFA’d two days later.
“He had a tough time in Florida, and we needed a pitcher,” Reds’ manager Terry Francona said. “And the hope is that he catches fire and gives us some help, because we’ve all seen that happen. It’s also good that [he’s] a veteran who knows what he’s doing, throwing strikes.”
Paddack took the opportunity to refocus after his release.
“I was home for about a week, got to spend time with the family and just kind of reset mentally, and got a call [Tuesday] that the Reds are interested, and here we are,” Paddack said Wednesday. “I’m excited for this opportunity. You look at my stats to start the season, it’s not ideal, right? It’s never how we want to start. But that doesn’t define who you are. And it’s pretty cool to see a group of guys like this, front office, coaching staff, players saying, ‘Hey, let’s give this guy a chance. We know what he’s capable of.’ I want to contribute any way I can, and I’m excited to get back on the saddle.”
He has an 0-1 career record and 2.41 ERA against the Guardians in four games (three starts). Paddack has allowed five runs in 18 2/3 innings facing Cleveland.
He will be trying to build on Andrew Abbott’s start on Friday night.
Abbott allowed a run and four hits in five-plus innings in Cincinnati’s 7-6 win in the Ohio Cup series.
He left the game with a 3-0 lead that grew to 6-1 when the Reds scored three more in the top of the eighth. But in the home half of that inning, reliever Graham Ashcraft gave up four runs without getting an out to move the score to 6-5. Both teams scored a run in the ninth inning as the Reds held on.
Key to Cleveland’s comeback attempt was rookie Travis Bazzana. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, Bazzana was 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI, both coming in the eighth inning.
Manager Stephen Vogt is happy with what he has seen so far from Bazzana through his first 15 career games.
“He hit the ball hard there at the end,” Vogt said. “I thought we had a number of guys that had really good at-bats tonight. But Travis’ at-bats have been very, very good versus left, versus right.”
The Guardians are scheduled to send 26-year-old left-hander Joey Cantillo (3-1, 2.98) to the mound on Saturday.
Cantillo has won his past two starts, defeating the Los Angeles Angels and Kansas City Royals. He allowed a combined one run on eight hits over 11 innings. He has just one brief career appearance against the Reds, striking out the only batter he faced in that game.
–Field Level Media
