Wednesday’s 5-0 loss to the Cubs was the first game since Saturday that the Reds bullpen did not nearly incite a rash of heart palpitations amongst its faithful followers.
How the Reds address their flammable bullpen situation — Cincinnati’s relievers entered Thursday ranked dead last among all MLB teams in FIP and WAR — will offer a glimpse into just how serious the club is committed winning in 2015. Entering this weekend’s three-game set in St. Louis, Aroldis Chapman (0.98 FIP) and J.J. Hoover (1.82 FIP) have been excellent. Burke Badenhop (3.73) and Tony Cingrani (4.