HOUSTON – At the end of the grueling stretch of games that includes a miserable road trip through Atlanta and Houston, Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona held a quick meeting to tell his guys how much they deserved Monday’s scheduled day off.
And to apologize.
Francona leaned especially hard on his bullpen the past week after short starts by Hunter Greene Wednesday, Brady Singer Saturday and Chase Petty Sunday, along with extra-inning games Tuesday and Thursday.
They covered all those extra bullpen innings without swapping out young guys like Lyon Richardson or Luis Mey for fresh arms from the minors.