Reds Reportedly Claim Failed Braves Pitching Experiment Kevin Gausman
By Parker White
After getting smacked up by the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night, Atlanta Braves right-hander Kevin Gausman has been claimed off waivers by the very same team that laid waste to him.
According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the reclamation project will be heading to Cincy.
Right-hander Kevin Gausman is headed to the Cincinnati Reds, sources tell ESPN. He was claimed off waivers from the Atlanta Braves. The 28-year-old has one more season remaining until he hits free agency following 2020 though could be a non-tender candidate this winter.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 5, 2019
This is not a pure rental on Cincinnati's part, as Gausman has one more season of control before he hits free agency following the 2020 season. Of course, if he continues to pitch to the tune of a 6.19 ERA over 16 starts, he could be non-tendered.
Kevin Gausman, reportedly headed to the Reds (says @jeffpassan), has been trying to get by as a two-pitch RH SP, which is... unusual, to say the least.
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) August 5, 2019
Will be interesting to see if the Derek Johnson magic works on him, too. pic.twitter.com/Df42kDoIN2
Gausman, 28, pitched very well for Atlanta last year when they got him from the Baltimore Orioles, but his 2019 season has been a nightmare. He did spend some time on the IL with plantar fasciitis, but he came off the shelf and pitched a gem against Washington.
That didn't last long, as he reverted back to being a two-pitch pitcher, throwing nothing but fastballs and split-fingers. While both are above-average, you aren't fooling the opposing lineup as a starter with two pitches, especially if you don't have command of one.