Price: Cingrani's time has come

Tony Cingrani, mostly the missing man in the Reds' bullpen, is about to emerge. Cingrani has not pitched since April 13. He's logged a total of 3 1/3 innings in the 17 games.

"I think Tony's time has come," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "He made the team as a long guy, a second lefty. If I want to a lefty for one hitter or a shorter outing, I would typically go to (Manny) Parra. We've played an awful lot of close games, so I've been reluctant to use Tony to face a couple of hitters to finish an inning.

"That's made it more problematic for me to get him in with regularity. That being said, the time may have come — regardless of who's coming up left- or right-handed — that he get his opportunity."

That's about Cingrani, who has great stuff, and about the abject failure of rest of the bullpen.

"We're not getting the performance we anticipated to start the season from some of the other guys," Price said. "They'll continue to pitch, but I think Tony hasn't been given the same opportunity of some of the other guys in our bullpen and it's his opportunity.

"His time has come to pitch a little more frequently. The other part of that is an awareness — when you have a guy make your team as a length guy — you always want to feel like your keeping him relatively fresh in case you need him for two or three innings.

"At this point in time, I can't worry about length anymore. I've got to worry about who's the best for those later game situations."

Price has gone with veterans Burke Badenhop, Kevin Gregg and Manny Parra in the setup role for closer Aroldis Chapman. Badenhop's ERA is 10.80; Gregg's is 10.29. Parra has a 2.70 ERA but opposing batters are hitting .438 off him and he's walked three in 3 1/3 innings.

Badenhop was the losing pitcher Friday night in the 7-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs. He got an out, gave up three straight line-drive hits and a run. After an intentional walk, David Ross hit two-run double high off the wall in right-center. Badenhop, a ground-ball specialist, did not get one until the Cubs sent up pitcher Travis Wood to pinch-hit. The groundout scored a run as well.

"I'm seeing a lot of elevation pitches," Price said. "Even (Friday), he's throwing a lot of pitches between the thigh and the belt right now. He's definitely been one of the better ground-ball pitchers over the last handful of years."

Badenhop gave up one home run in 70 1/3 innings last year. He's given up two in 6 1/3 innings this year.

"We've got to find a way to get him back to the bottom of the zone," Price said. "I don't think he's lost his ability to get that ground ball. I think he's in the wrong region of the plate right now."