Homer Bailey And Mat Latos Have Positive Starts

Mar 10, 2014; Surprise, AZ, USA; Cincinnati Reds pitcher Homer Bailey (34) throws during the third inning against the Texas Rangers at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

In his first game since March 10, Reds pitcher Homer Bailey  pitched five innings for Triple-A Louisville against the Los Angeles Dodgers Minor Leaguers on Monday. Bailey, who had been out with a strained right groin, threw 76 pitches..

“Early on it almost felt too good, because I hadn’t been on the mound in so long,” Bailey said. “Then in that fifth, I did start cramping up just a bit, but that can kind of be expected.”

Bailey’s fastball ranged from 90 to 93 , and got topped out at 94 mph.

“I don’t know how much you can expect the first time out after taking some time off,” Bailey said. “I did feel kind mechanically a little off from just not being on the mound and stuff. Physically, I felt all right.”

Bailey played it safe and did not cover first base on a couple of ground balls, because obviously he did not want to run on his injured groin.

“It wasn’t something we haven’t done yet,” Bailey said. “I kind of took a step and said, ‘Whoa, not today.’ I didn’t want to reinjuried  it covering a base. That was the only hesitation. We’ve got a week left; let’s cool down a bit.”

If Bailey is still feeling good, his next start would most likely be on Saturday for the Reds in an exhibition game at Louisville. That could put him on track to pitch the third game of the regular season, which would be April 3rd against the St Louis Cardinals.

Bailey seems confident that he will not need to begin the season on the disabled list, and that would huge having in the staff, due to the number of injuries already.

“I don’t think I will start on the day I was scheduled to from the beginning of spring, but that’s kind of part of being the starter,” Bailey said. “You have to wait every fifth day, yada, yada.”

Reds starter Mat Latos threw 43 pitches in three innings against the Dodgers’ Double-A Chattanooga club in a minor league scrimmage game on Monday.

It was Latos’ second Minor League game since returning from Feb. 14 surgery that repaired torn meniscus cartilage in his left knee. He also had bone chips removed from his right elbow last October.

“The elbow feels great; the knee, I don’t feel anything,” Latos said. “The velocity was there with me not trying to let it go. It’s Spring Training, so who cares? The velocity was there, the curveball was there, the slider was there. I can’t complain with anything. I feel strong. I feel ready to go.”

The Reds expect Latos to begin the season on the disabled list, and will stay in Arizona after the team depart back to Cincinnati for the regular season. They plan season to have him start at least five starts in spring before pitching in the regular season.

Overall, it was a solid day for the two, and we expect Bailey to start in the Cardinals series next week, and we’ll see Latos hopefully in the middle of April.