After being the most reliable starter for the Cincinnati Reds in 2016, Brandon Finnegan has spent 2017 on the DL. In 2016 Finnegan made 31 starts, pitching 172 innings. This year Finnegan made 4 starts, pitching 13 innings and was the de facto ace heading into the season.
This is what happens to the Reds’ pitching staff every year. A pitcher makes it through a seemingly normal season making all his starts and then can’t get healthy the next season. It happened to Homer Bailey, Anthony DeSclafani, and Brandon Finnegan.
When a pitcher leaves, nothing bad seems to happen.