Sims (1-0) blew the save but picked up the win Wednesday against Texas. He struck out two over a scoreless inning.
Sims came on in relief in the ninth inning after Ian Gibault departed with runners on first and second and no outs. He'd allow a sacrifice fly to Brad Miller, tieing the game 3-3, before recording a pair of strikeouts to avoid further damage. Sims has made four appearances this season without allowing a run, striking out four in 3.2 innings. Sims is arguably the Reds' best option in the bullpen behind Alexis Diaz, though he doesn't have a clear path towards fantasy relevance.
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Reds' Lucas Sims: Activated from 15-day IL
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Sims (back) was activated Tuesday from the 15-day injured list, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Sims will join the Reds' bullpen Tuesday against the Rays -- a day earlier than expected -- after logging three solid minor-league rehab appearances at Triple-A Louisville. He's battled a lot of injuries in recent seasons, but the 28-year-old right-hander could quickly rise into a prominent setup role if his health cooperates.
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Reds' Lucas Sims: Likely coming off IL on Wednesday
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The Reds are expected to reinstate Sims (back) from the 15-day injured list prior to Wednesday's game against the Rays, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Sims has already rejoined the Reds in Cincinnati, but he'll get a couple more days to rest up following his recent three-appearance rehab assignment at Triple-A Louisville. He covered exactly one inning in each of those outings and gave up no runs on one hit and two walks while striking out three. Once activated, Sims will likely settle back into a setup role in front of closer Alexis Diaz.
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Reds' Lucas Sims: Starts up rehab assignment
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Sims (back) will begin a rehab assignment Sunday with Triple-A Louisville.
Since Sims' placement on the IL is retroactive to March 27, he'll be eligible for activation as soon as Tuesday, but it's unclear if he'll be immediately reinstated at that time. The Reds will likely wait and see how he fares during his upcoming appearance Sunday before deciding whether he's fit to join the big-league bullpen or requires at least one more outing in the minors. Once activated, Sims is expected to settle into a setup role in front of closer Alexis Diaz.
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Reds' Lucas Sims: Placed on 15-day IL
Rotowire
The Reds placed Sims (back) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.
Bell was bothered by back spasms throughout much of March and will need a little more rest and rehab before he can jump into the Reds' bullpen. The 28-year-old might eventually emerge again as a high-leverage option in Cincinnati, though he has some proving to do after his lost 2022.
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Reds' Lucas Sims: Will open season on injured list
Rotowire
Reds manager David Bell confirmed Wednesday that Sims (back) will open the season on the injured list, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
Sims has been bothered by back spasms, and the reliever won't be ready for the start of the season. Bell also said that Sims along with Luke Weaver (forearm) will likely pitch in rehab assignments for Triple-A Louisville before they're ready to join the Reds. Assuming he has no further setbacks, Sims has a good chance to pitch in the late innings for Cincinnati in the middle of April.
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Reds' Lucas Sims: Shut down with back spasm
Rotowire
Sims has been shut down for a few days with a back spasm, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
He had season-ending back surgery last year, yet the team says it's not related to that procedure to address a herniated disk. Either way, it sounds like Sims is could still make the Opening Day roster.
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Reds' Lucas Sims: Ready for start of spring training
Rotowire
Sims (back) reported to spring training earlier this week and will be a full participant in camp, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Sims was limited to just 6.2 innings at the big-league level 2022 before undergoing season-ending surgery, and he gave up seven runs over that span. The right-hander has been an effective relief option when healthy, however, and he's expected to re-enter the high-leverage mix for Cincinnati now that he's made a full recovery from back surgery. Reds manager David Bell has named Alexis Diaz the closer, so Sims will have to settle for setup work early on.
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Reds' Lucas Sims: Avoids arbitration
Rotowire
Sims (back) signed a one-year, $1.27 million contract with the Reds on Friday to avoid arbitration, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
Sims' season was cut short in 2022 after undergoing season-ending surgery on his back, and the 6.2 innings he managed to pitch early in the year weren't pretty (9.45 ERA, 1.65 WHIP). It's possible he'll work his way back into the closer role Cincinnati had planned for him going into 2022, though it may take a while before he gets there.
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Reds' Lucas Sims: Set for season-ending surgery
Rotowire
Sims will undergo season-ending surgery to address a herniated disc in his back, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Sims entered the season looking like the favorite to close games for Cincinnati, but he'll finish it with just a single save to his name. Elbow troubles limited him to just six appearances, in which he gave up seven runs in 6.2 frames, before he returned to the injured list with back problems. He attempted to pitch through the issue, but it got bad enough that he was in serious pain and couldn't feel his foot. Undergoing surgery now at least gives him plenty of time to get ready for spring training.
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Reds' Lucas Sims: Transferred to 60-day IL
Rotowire
Sims (back) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Friday.
Sims began a throwing program in late May but won't be eligible to rejoin the Reds until at least mid-July after being moved to the 60-day injured list. It's not clear how much progress the right-hander has made in his throwing progression, but Art Warren and Alexis Diaz are the top two closing options in the Reds' bullpen after Tony Santillan (back) was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday.
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Reds' Lucas Sims: Set to begin throwing program
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Reds manager David Bell said Sims (back) will begin a throwing program Tuesday or Wednesday, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Since he's a reliever, Sims shouldn't require too extensive of a ramp-up period, but he'll still need to advance from playing catch to throwing off a mound to facing hitters before he's cleared to head out on what should be a brief minor-league rehab assignment. Before lower-back spasms forced him to the 15-day injured list May 12, Sims looked to be near the front of the pecking order for saves out of the Cincinnati bullpen, but it's unclear where he'll stand in the Reds' late-inning plans once he eventually returns. Alexis Diaz, Art Warren and Tony Santillan have all picked up one save apiece since Sims was placed on the IL.
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Reds' Lucas Sims: Not yet throwing
Rotowire
Sims (back) has yet to resume a throwing program and won't return from the 15-day injured list when first eligible May 26, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Sims was placed on the injured list last week due to a bulging disc in his back and has remained shut down from throwing since landing on the shelf. The 28-year-old is now likely to be out until at least early June, and a specific return timeline is unlikely to come into focus until he's cleared to start a throwing program.
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Reds' Lucas Sims: Dealing with bulging disc in back
Rotowire
Sims is dealing with a bulging disc in his back, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Sims was diagnosed with low back spasms when he was placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday, and manager David Bell clarified the nature of the 28-year-old's injury following the move. The right-hander started some light exercises and core strengthening Thursday. Bell said he doesn't have a prediction regarding how long Sims will be sidelined but said that he hasn't heard anyone talk about the injury as a long-term issue. Art Warren, Tony Santillan and Hunter Strickland are the top candidates for ninth-inning work in Sims' absence.
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Reds' Lucas Sims: Placed on 15-day IL
Rotowire
Sims was placed on the 15-day injured list with low back spasms Thursday, retroactive to May 11.
The 28-year-old spent the first few weeks of the season on the injured list due to an elbow injury, and he'll now be sidelined with a back issue. Over his six appearances this season, the right-hander has picked up a win and a save while posting a 9.45 ERA and 1.65 WHIP in 6.2 innings. Art Warren, Tony Santillan and Hunter Strickland are the favorites for save chances while Sims is sidelined. It's not yet clear when Sims will be able to return to game action.
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Reds' Lucas Sims: Bombs in mop-up outing
Rotowire
Sims gave up five runs in two-thirds of inning during Wednesday's 18-4 loss to the Brewers. He gave up one hit while walking four batters.
Sims was in a "get-work" outing, having last pitched Saturday and then five days prior to that. If the Reds beat the odds and actually have a save chance Thursday, there's a reasonable likelihood that Sims won't be available after throwing 34 pitches Wednesday.
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Reds' Lucas Sims: Earns first save
Rotowire
Sims tossed a scoreless inning and notched a save against St. Louis on Sunday.
Sims was activated from the injured list Friday and was tagged with two runs in his season debut Saturday. The Reds went right back to him Sunday and he fired a perfect inning, forcing three straight groundouts to close out the 4-1 win. The 6-foot-2 righty recorded seven saves in 47 innings last season.
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Reds' Lucas Sims: Activated from 10-day IL
Rotowire
Sims (elbow) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Friday, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Sims' activation was expected Friday, and he'll be available to make his season debut after missing the start of the year with an elbow issue. The righty made four rehab appearances at Triple-A Louisville and allowed a run on two hits and a walk while striking out five in four innings. He should be part of Cincinnati's committee of late-inning relievers that also includes Tony Santillan, Art Warren and Hunter Strickland.
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Reds' Lucas Sims: Rehab appearance encouraging
Rotowire
Manager David Bell said Wednesday that he received encouraging reports from Sims' (elbow) rehab appearance that he threw Tuesday, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Sims was delayed in camp due to elbow and back injuries, but it's encouraging that he was able to begin a rehab assignment early in the regular season. He gave up a run via a solo homer in his one inning Tuesday, but he apparently felt good afterward. Bell is optimistic that Sims could return by the time the Reds return home to face the Cardinals on April 22.
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Reds' Lucas Sims: Begins rehab assignment
Rotowire
Sims (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday.
Sims has been behind schedule since the start of camp after dealing with elbow and back issues over the winter, though the Reds never seemed to be concerned about any long-term absence. He looked like the favorite to close heading into spring training but was never officially named the closer, so his role upon his return is not yet clear. Tony Santillan and Art Warren have picked up the Reds' two saves so far this season.
