29 Brandon Finnegan SP

Finnegan will transition to a relief role with Triple-A Louisville, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic Cincinnati reports.

Finnegan simply has not been able to find any success as a starter this year -- he owns a 7.40 ERA over five big-league starts and 7.24 ERA over eight starts with Louisville -- so the Reds will see what he can do in relief. Finnegan posted a 2.38 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 35:15 K:BB in 34 innings over 23 relief appearances at the major-league level earlier in his career, so it certainly would not be out of the question for him to find success pitching out of the bullpen.

Finnegan will be optioned to Triple-A Louisville on Friday, John Fay of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

The move clears room for Matt Harvey to officially join the rotation for his start Friday against the Dodgers. Finnegan was given a vote of confidence regarding his spot in the rotation earlier in the week, but the acquisition of Harvey changed matters. Finnegan's start to the season was rocky as he posted a 7.40 ERA through five starts and lasted a combined 20.2 innings in those appearances. He'll head down to Triple-A for now and figures to be one of the top candidates to be called back up whenever the Reds need a fresh arm next.

Finnegan will remain in the rotation for his next start, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Finnegan's performances have hardly merited another turn in the rotation. His ERA sits at 8.27 through five starts and he's walking 14.6 percent of batters while striking out just 13.6 percent. In what is already very clearly a rebuilding season for the Reds, though, the team has little reason not to let Finnegan try to work through his struggles in hopes of him recovering the form which gave him a solid 3.98 ERA in his first full season back in 2016. The 25-year-old battled shoulder issues last season and a biceps strain this spring, so it's possible that poor health has been the primary cause of his early struggles.

Finnegan (0-3) allowed five runs on four hits and three walks while striking out two across 3.1 innings Sunday as he took the loss against the Marlins.

Finnegan got rocked early and was replaced by Dylan Floro in the fourth inning following a rain delay. He gave up all five runs in the first two frames and exited with a 5-2 deficit. The 25-year-old's early struggles carried over into his fifth start of the season and he sits with a 8.27 ERA and 2.03 WHIP across 20.2 innings. Finnegan will need to put together a quality outing soon, or he'll be in danger of losing his spot in the starting rotation.

Finnegan allowed three runs on five hits and three walks with two strikeouts through five innings in a no-decision Monday against Milwaukee.

Finnegan still hasn't had an appearance longer than five innings in his four starts this season. He also has walked three or more in three of those starts, and those control issues have come back to bite him all three times. Finnegan needed 89 pitches to get through five innings on Monday, and he managed just five swinging strikes. Finnegan just doesn't have the swing-and-miss stuff to get away with putting runners on base. It has shown in the early going, as he now owns a 7.27 ERA with 12 walks in just 17.1 innings.