Cruz is scheduled to serve as the Reds' opening pitcher for Friday's game against the Mets.
He'll be making his third straight appearance as an opener after thriving on the previous two occasions Aug. 28 and 31. He covered five innings in those outings while striking out 11 and allowing one earned run on three hits and one walk. Cruz threw 42 pitches in each of those appearances, so he could be able to push up into the 50-to-55-pitch range Friday if the Reds elect to turn him loose. Jakob Junis and Brandon Williamson are both available on four days' rest and could be options to work in bulk relief once Cruz exits the contest.
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Reds' Fernando Cruz: Opening Wednesday
Rotowire
Cruz will serve as the Reds' opening pitcher for Wednesday's game against the Athletics, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Cruz has turned in a 5.30 ERA and 1.41 WHIP through 52.2 innings this season, and he'll now be called upon to make his first start of the campaign in what will likely be a bullpen game for Cincinnati. Only seven of Cruz's 61 appearances have lasted more than an inning, so he'll presumably be taken out of the game after recording the first three outs.
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Reds' Fernando Cruz: Rocked in loss
Rotowire
Cruz (1-2) took the loss against the Padres on Wednesday. He allowed four runs on three hits and a walk while striking out one over one-third of an inning.
Cruz entered to start the seventh inning of a 2-2 game but surrendered two singles and a walk before Jake Cronenworth belted a grand slam. The right-hander faced one more batter, striking out Manny Machado, before departing. Other than Wednesday's effort and another in which he walked three batters, Cruz has pitched well over 13 outings. He entered Wednesday with a 1.59 ERA with 21 strikeouts over 11.1 innings.
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Reds' Fernando Cruz: Walks three, takes loss
Rotowire
Cruz (0-1) was tagged with the loss Friday against the Mets. He allowed a run on three walks while striking out two over one inning in a 3-2 defeat.
Cruz entered a clean seventh inning and got the first out before walking three consecutive batters. He nearly escaped trouble, but a potential double-play grounder was mishandled by shortstop Elly De La Cruz. The reliever has allowed two runs one one hit and three walks while striking out eight over 4.1 innings.
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Reds' Fernando Cruz: Activated from injured list
Rotowire
Cruz was activated from the 15-day injured list by the Reds on Friday, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
Cruz missed nearly a month of action with a right shoulder strain but is ready to roll following a couple rehab appearances. He's posted a 6.59 ERA in 13.2 relief innings for the Reds this season, although that's come with 20 strikeouts.
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Reds' Fernando Cruz: Starting rehab assignment
Rotowire
Cruz (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Sunday, Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Cruz could be activated as soon as May 26 for the start of the Reds' next road trip. he's been out since late April with a right shoulder strain.
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Reds' Fernando Cruz: Hits IL with shoulder strain
Rotowire
Cruz was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday with a right shoulder strain, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports.
Cruz has struggled out of the gate to the tune of a 6.59 ERA over 13.2 innings out of the bullpen, and he'll now be shut down for at least a couple of weeks because of the shoulder injury. The Reds reinstated Graham Ashcraft from the bereavement list in a corresponding move.
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Reds' Fernando Cruz: Wild season debut
Rotowire
Cruz walked three batters and threw a wild pitch while recording just one out in relief of Hunter Greene in Thursday's Opening Day loss to the Pirates.
Cruz's control problems allowed both of the runners he inherited from Greene to score, and contributed to the Reds walking a cumulative nine batters over the course of the game.
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Reds' Fernando Cruz: Opening Game 2 vs. Bucs
Rotowire
Cruz will work as an opener in Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Pirates, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
Raynel Espinal is expected to be the primary pitcher out of the bullpen after Cruz gets a few outs to open the game. Cruz has a 1.93 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and seven strikeouts in 4.2 innings over five appearances since getting promoted for September.
