Reds pitcher DeScalfani injured again

Reds pitcher Anthony DeSclafani is back to square one.

After a successful third outing against the Texas Rangers on Friday, a MRI revealed a strained left oblique. DeSclafani pitched three scoreless innings and allowed one hit and a walk in the game.

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“He threw the ball well. He noticed a sensation but it didn’t affect the way he threw,” Reds manager Bryan Price said. “In the aftermath he had it checked out. It wasn’t something anybody knew about.”

The right-hander missed the entire 2017 season with sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.

DeSclafani had a left oblique strain during spring training in 2016 that kept him from pitching until June. He finished that season with a 9-5 record with a 3.28 ERA.

“Unfortunately, that was in the front part of the oblique. This one is in the back. I say that with nothing but frustration for Anthony and our club,” Price said. “I feel bad for the kid. He worked his tail off to get ready. He did everything we asked of him and more. It wasn’t a lack of preparation.”

DeSclafani was pegged as one of the Reds top four starters, assuming he came out of Spring Training healthy.

There was no estimate on how long DeSclafani will be kept out of baseball activity.

“They want to get all the soreness out. I’m sure there will be MRIs and ultrasounds to check his progress before he gets back to baseball activity,” Price said.

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