Ian Gibaut DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Ian Gibaut blew the save chance and suffered the loss in a 4-6 loss to the Giants on Thursday. He allowed four runs on three hits and a walk. The Reds were entering the season with a suspected closer committee, but Gibaut was interestingly not on anyone's radar for the role. Scott Barlow, Emilio Pagan, and Tony Santillan were all more favored for save chances, yet they pitched the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings of this game. With so many options, this might be Gibaut's first and last opportunity to close a game for a while.

According to Robert Murray of FanSided.com, right-handed pitcher Ian Gibaut agreed to a minor-league deal with the Cincinnati Reds that contains an invite to spring training. Gibaut was non-tendered by the Reds earlier this offseason but will given an opportunity to crack the Opening Day roster. The 31-year-old logged just two innings of work in the majors last season as he was limited by calf and forearm injuries. In 2023, the Tulane product posted a 3.33 ERA with a 1.28 WHIP across 75 2/3 innings of work. He struck out 69 batters and held an 8.8% walk rate. That season, he generated a solid 6.0% barrel rate and a 31.9% hard-hit rate. Fantasy managers should monitor his progression during spring training, as Gibaut could earn a spot in the bullpen if he performs well.

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Ian Gibaut (calf, forearm) started a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Sunday and gave up a home run in his lone inning of work. It's good to see Gibaut pitching in games again, but because of the fact that he's missed the entire 2024 season, it's unlikely that we'll see him down the stretch pitching out of the Reds' bullpen with the season winding down. The 30-year-old reliever has been rehabbing a right-calf strain and a right-forearm strain all season long. The former 11th-round selection of the Tampa Bay Rays in 2015 out of Tulane was solid for the Reds last year, going 8-4 with a 3.33 ERA (4.07 FIP), a 1.28 WHIP, a career-high three saves, a career-high 69 strikeouts and 28 walks in 75 2/3 innings out of the bullpen.

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Ian Gibaut (forearm) will throw his first bullpen session on Tuesday, July 16, and could be back with the team in the middle of August. Gibaut hasn't pitched at all this year and had anterior interosseous nerve-release surgery back in early May. It's good news that the 30-year-old reliever is getting close to throwing off a mound again, but he still has a lot of boxes to check and will eventually need to embark on a minor-league rehab assignment until he rejoins the major-league bullpen. Gibaut could help Cincy's bullpen down the stretch, though, after he went 8-4 with a 3.33 ERA (4.07 FIP), a 1.28 WHIP, a career-high three saves, a career-high 69 strikeouts and 28 walks in 75 2/3 innings of relief.

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Ian Gibaut (forearm) has been working on his grip strength with his right hand. Once he reaches a certain level of progress, he will be cleared to begin a throwing program. Gibaut had surgery on May 9 to relieve a compression in a forearm nerve called the anterior interosseous nerve or AIN. Manager David Bell said that the 30-year-old could be cleared to return from the 60-day injured list in as soon as six weeks. He's been shut down all year to this point and will not be able to rejoin Cincy's bullpen until the second half of the season. The former 11th-round pick by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2015 out of Tulane went 8-4 with a 3.33 ERA (4.07 FIP), a 1.28 WHIP, a career-high three saves, a career-high 69 strikeouts and 28 walks in 74 relief appearances in his first full season with the Reds in 2023.