Cincinnati Reds Bullpen DISASTER: Connor Phillips Optioned, Tony Santillan Blows ANOTHER Save

Craig Sandlin and Greg Kuffner break down another frustrating night for the Cincinnati Reds after Connor Phillips and Jose Franco were both optioned to AAA-Louisville. They discuss what led to the roster moves, what it means for the Reds pitching staff moving forward and the continued struggles of Tony Santillan after he blew another late lead in Saturday night’s loss. Plus, reaction to the game, key takeaways and what’s next for the Reds.

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The Cincinnati Reds entered the 2026 season believing their bullpen could be one of the strengths of the roster. Instead, over the last several weeks, relief pitching has become one of the biggest reasons the Reds have struggled to consistently close out games and build momentum in the National League playoff race.

The issues have shown up in almost every possible way. Late leads have disappeared. High leverage innings have turned into extended rallies for opposing teams. Walks, command problems and poorly timed home runs have consistently hurt the Reds in critical moments. Even when the offense has done enough to win games and the starting pitching has delivered quality outings, the bullpen has repeatedly failed to finish the job.

One of the biggest concerns is that there does not appear to be a clear answer at the back end of games right now. Tony Santillan has struggled badly in save situations recently, with command inconsistencies continuing to hurt him. When Santillan is ahead in counts, he still has the stuff to overpower hitters, but too often he falls behind and is forced to throw fastballs in predictable situations. Opposing hitters have taken advantage, and the confidence level around the bullpen late in games has clearly dropped.

The Reds have also lacked consistency from the bridge relievers leading into the ninth inning. Injuries and roster shuffling have forced the team to constantly move pieces between Cincinnati and Triple-A Louisville. Connor Phillips and Jose Franco being optioned recently are just the latest examples of the organization searching for answers. While Phillips has electric stuff, his command issues continue to make it difficult for him to handle important innings at the major league level. Franco showed flashes, but the Reds clearly felt they needed a different mix in the bullpen.

Another issue has been workload management. The Reds have relied heavily on certain relievers because of inconsistent starting pitching depth. Too often, relievers are pitching on back-to-back days or entering games with little margin for error. Over a long season, bullpen fatigue can quickly become a major factor, especially for younger pitchers who are not used to carrying such a heavy workload.

The Reds’ bullpen problems have also exposed a lack of veteran stability. In recent seasons, successful teams around baseball have relied on experienced relievers who can handle pressure situations and consistently throw strikes. Cincinnati’s bullpen has talent, but much of it remains volatile. There are power arms throughout the organization, but power alone does not win late innings in the major leagues. Consistency, command and composure matter just as much.

Defensively, the Reds have not always helped their pitchers either. Missed opportunities in the field have extended innings and increased pitch counts. Even when errors do not officially show up in the box score, poor defensive execution can create extra pressure on relievers already struggling to find rhythm.

The frustrating part for the Reds is that the bullpen issues are wasting strong performances elsewhere on the roster. The lineup has shown the ability to score runs consistently, especially with key hitters returning healthy. The rotation has also had stretches where it has given the team more than enough to win games. But in today’s game, teams cannot survive without reliable relief pitching, and right now the Reds simply do not have enough dependable options.

There is still time for Cincinnati to turn things around, but changes may be necessary. The Reds could look internally for younger arms who are throwing well in Louisville, or they may eventually need to explore the trade market for bullpen help. Contending teams rarely wait too long to address relief pitching issues because close games in the summer often determine playoff positioning in September.

The talent is still there for the Reds bullpen to improve. Santillan still has elite velocity. Several younger relievers still possess high upside. But until the Reds consistently throw strikes, limit walks and execute in high leverage moments, the bullpen will remain one of the biggest questions surrounding the team.

For a Reds club trying to prove it belongs in the playoff picture, fixing the bullpen is no longer optional. It has become one of the defining storylines of the season.