As innings mount, Reds' Price ponders Lorenzen

SAN DIEGO – Bryan Price wants struggling right-hander Michael Lorenzen to continue to pitch for the Reds through September, but that role has not yet been decided.

Lorenzen didn’t make it out of the second inning on Tuesday and has struggled since the All-Star break, going 0-4 with a 12.57 ERA in five starts.

The 23-year-old right-hander has made 17 starts for the Reds this season plus two relief appearances for a total of 90 2/3 innings. He also has 19 innings at Triple-A, for 109 2/3 total. Last season he threw 120 2/3 innings at Double-A Pensacola. Price said he wants Lorenzen to throw somewhere between 150-155 innings this season, but also pitch through September.

“It’s a balancing act at this point in time right now. He’s got a lot of growth – a lot of room for growth and need for growth,” Price said. “We’ve asked a lot out of this kid, as you guys know. If you go back over his history, one full season as a starter in professional baseball, this is his second and he’s had some really good moments, even though he’s in a bit of a downspell right now.”

Lorenzen acknowledged that fatigue may be part of his recent struggles and Price hasn’t decided if Lorenzen will make his next scheduled start, Sunday against the Dodgers.

With five rookies in the rotation, innings limits will be the norm for all of the team’s starters other than Anthony DeSclafani. DeSclafani threw 162 1/3 innings between the minors, majors and Arizona Fall League last season, so Price is confident in him logging 190 or so innings.

Raisel Iglesias (82 1/3 innings total), David Holmberg (126) and Keyvius Sampson (94 2/3) have all thrown more innings than they did last year, but both Holmberg and Sampson have thrown more innings in the past.

Price said the organization has a plan for all of the starters and their total innings, but didn’t want to come out and throw out numbers for any pitcher other than Lorenzen.

“I don’t want guys thinking they’re near the end or shutting it down, but (Lorenzen is) at such an extreme because he’s so limited in professional experience and innings, that you’re not going to see him pitch 210,” Price said. “We knew that wasn’t going to happen. I don’t want to be coy because his situation is right out there. We knew that going into the season.”