The Cincinnati Reds announced just after 5pm on Tuesday evening that they had optioned starting pitcher Vladimir Gutierrez to Triple-A Louisville and recalled reliever Ashton Goudeau from the Bats roster.
It’s a surprising turn of events, at least in the short term, as Vladimir Gutierrez has been in the starting rotation for the last two months. He really struggled on Monday against the New York Mets, giving up six earned runs in 4.0 innings. That start, his 10th of the season, pushed his ERA to 4.97 on the year. He’s thrown 54.1 innings, allowed 54 hits, 11 home runs, walked 25 batters, and he’s struck out just 37. For Gutierrez, he’s walked a fine line where he’s had a high walk rate, hasn’t struck out many batters, and given up plenty of home runs but had avoided truly giving up a bunch of runs. Even now, his 4.97 ERA works out to a 95 ERA+ on the year. That’s slightly below the league average.
But the Reds likely needed to make a move of some kind after going through their bullpen. And with Jeff Hoffman coming back on Wednesday to make what now seems like at least two spot starts if not more, the Reds can go with a 5-man rotation and get someone up to help fill innings in the bullpen for the day if needed.
That man, of course, is Ashton Goudeau. He’s pitched in five games for Cincinnati this season and allowed four runs in 9.0 innings while walking nine (three intentionally) and striking out five batters. In Triple-A this season he’s made four starts and three relief appearances that have totaled 25.0 innings. In that stretch he’s posted a 4.68 ERA, allowed 24 hits, walked nine batters, and he’s struck out 17.
Since Jeff Hoffman is slated to start for the Reds on Wednesday but has not yet been activated, the team will need to create a 26-man roster spot for him tomorrow. That could mean this is a 1-day trip for Goudeau. Though it could also mean that someone else gets optioned to Triple-A if they may not be available for a few days because of usage and Goudeau isn’t used on Tuesday night.