CINCINNATI — It’s like Trevor Bauer’s face was the equivalent of the spinning beach ball on a computer (or an hourglass for you PC types) — you could tell he was looking for answers inside his head, knowing they were there. He just needed time, a little more data, a little more processing and the right answer would come out.



His 10th start as a Cincinnati Red wasn’t much different from his others — partly beleaguered, partly brilliant, but ultimately bewildering.



Bauer gave up four runs in the first inning of Sunday’s 6-3 loss to the Mets. Overall, he allowed five runs on six hits over seven innings, striking out eight, walking none and hitting two. His ERA ballooned to 4.48 on the season and 6.39 with the Reds. He fell to 11-13 on the season and 2-5 with Cincinnati.



This wasn’t what anyone envisioned when the Reds made the blockbuster deal to get Bauer the night before the trade deadline. In the deal, the Reds...