Reynolds keeps rolling with Reds

Righty Greg Reynolds, the Louisville Bats Mary E. Barney Team MVP for 2013, is slated to make his fourth start and fifth overall appearance for the Reds tonight in Houston. Reynolds will be looking to help the Reds finish the three-game sweep of the Astros and continue their push into the postseason.

The 2006 second round pick to Colorado out of Stanford is 1-2 with a 4.74 ERA in his three starts with Cincinnati (5.66 ERA overall). He last appeared on September 10 against the Cubs in an emergency relief role when Tony Cingrani left his start after going just 1.2 innings. Although he allowed three earned runs in that game in just 1.2 innings, he was 1-1 with a 3.21 ERA in his two previous starts for the Reds on August 25 and 31. He will look to keep that momentum going tonight at Minute Maid Park.

Reynolds, 28, made his Reds debut shortly after the All-Star break. On July 23, he started the second game of the team's doubleheader in San Francisco, pitching in front of a group of his family and friends near his native Pacifica, Calif. After the Reds took the first game, however, Reynolds allowed three earned runs in the first inning of the second game and five runs over five innings overall in taking the loss in his first big league action since 2011.

The start in San Francisco was his only action with the Reds during his first stint with the club, but he did not seem to be discouraged after he was outrighted to Triple-A Louisville. He made four starts for the Bats in August, all on the road, and went 2-1 with a 1.86 ERA. In his last action of the season in the minors, he tossed a complete game at Rochester on August 20, allowing just one earned run on five hits without walking any batters in the win.

Reynolds started the year with Louisville 10-0, becoming the first pitcher in franchise history to do so. He also became the first Louisville pitcher to be credited with the win in the Triple-A All-Star Game, although he allowed two runs in his one inning of work.

Although Durham's J.D. Martin was named the International League Pitcher of the Year, Reynolds had an excellent case for the honor. He finished the season second in the IL in 2.42 ERA and tied for second with his 12 wins, both tops among Reds minor leaguers. His 1.06 WHIP was the best in the league and, among starters, he allowed the fewest number of baserunners per nine innings and the third-fewest walks per nine innings. Had he not missed three weeks of play while with the Reds and being in DFA limbo, he likely could have made a more complete push for the IL award.

The Reds signed Reynolds to a minor league contract on December 18, 2012. Although his remaining time with Cincinnati could be limited, the Bats 2013 MVP has shown that he is likely to push for Major League innings again in 2014.