Reds pitcher Homer Bailey could be shut down for season after setback

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Homer Bailey hasn't progressed as well as the team thought he would in his recovery from an arm injury, and the team could shut him down for the season.

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Homer Bailey hasn't progressed as well as the team thought he would in his recovery from an arm injury, and the team could shut him down for the season, Reds trainer Paul Lessard told MLB.com.

Bailey underwent a second MRI on his arm, and the results showed Wednesday that the strained flexor mass tendon in his forearm hasn't healed the point where he can resume throwing. The team is considering giving Bailey a second platelet-rich plasma injection, which would prevent Bailey from throwing for at least another week.

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According to Lessard, Reds medical director Tim Kremchek is considering how to proceed.

"[Bailey]'s unfortunately very frustrated, [but] I have to think about his arm for the future as well, not just the next four weeks," Lessard said. "We're trying to figure out what's the best thing for him."

"[Kremchek] has an opinion, but he isn't sure if we should continue what we're doing, [or if we] should shut him down completely," Lessard said.

Bailey has been on the disabled list since Aug. 8. Before his injury, the right-hander was 9-5 with a 3.71 ERA and 124 strikeouts in 23 starts.

The Reds entered Thursday at 64-69, 6.5 games behind the second Wild Card spot in the National League.

- Ben Estes