Broxton's injury opens door for Simon

The Reds discovered that it wasn't just soreness that plagued setup man Jonathan Broxton. Broxton has a shoulder injury that will cost him time on the major league ball club. He will enter his first stint on the DL since the Reds traded for him from the Royals at the deadline last year.

Alfredo Simon has been Manager Dusty Baker's pitcher of choice to assume the role of the eighth inning. Simon was a valuable member of last year's NL Central Division champs. He was the primary long man as fellow long reliever Sam LeCure usually mopped up innings in pressure spots. Simon was used when the starting pitching wasn't at its best and there was a need for a relief pitcher to enter the game for more than a single inning.

Simon finished last season with an ERA under 3 after being a starter and reliever for much of his prior career with Baltimore. Simon has started the season almost as well as he finished last year. Simon has been efficient with his pitches, and his ERA is respectably in the 3's. Simon is a veteran of the league and knows that it takes mixing pitches to be successful at the major league level. He has a fastball that can reach 96 miles per hour, and throws a hard breaking ball as well. Simon is pitching the way the Reds wanted Broxton to pitch after signing him to a 2 year extension. 

If Simon continues to bridge the gap between starting pitching and Aroldis Chapman, the Reds bullpen could be locked down like it was in the second half of last year. Simon was originally just a cheap option to throw in a game when the Reds first acquired him. He has turned into a sought after commodity who can help the Reds maintain leads in the innings they have the most trouble.