Short starts, taxed bullpen hampering Reds

CLEVELAND — After getting roughed up in back-to-back innings by the Indians on Tuesday, Reds pitcher Alfredo Simon made a slow walk to the dugout upon securing the third out in the third. Once inside, Simon slammed his glove on the bench and spilled a bucket of bubble gum.

The long, frustrating night wasn’t quite over yet for Simon, who would work into the fifth inning. But the Reds’ fate was certainly sealed at that point before a 13-1 loss to Cleveland.

“We’re just in a bad cycle of short starts and an overtaxed bullpen,” Reds manager Bryan Price said.

Simon was signed for $2 million on March 17, explicitly to provide innings and deep starts. Off his seven starts, only his previous two were quality outings.

While the bullpen has taken its lumps this season, starting pitchers play a role in setting up relievers for big struggles.

The Reds’ rotation, which has been plagued by injuries, has pitched a National League-low 199 1/3 innings. That total isn’t much more than the innings compiled by the bullpen — 141 2/3 — that is second-most in the Majors.

There hasn’t been a seven-inning start for a Reds pitcher since Simon went a season-high 7 2/3 …

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