Bad Back Puts Reds' Aaron Harang on DL

Just when it started to look like Aaron Harang might be rounding back into form, the Reds' Opening Day starter landed on the disabled list Tuesday.

The move came a day after Harang was scratched from his scheduled start against the Mets with lower back spasms. Travis Wood started in Harang's place Monday, and when the big right-hander proved unable to take the ball Tuesday, Matt Maloney got the call from Triple-A to take the ball at Citi Field.

Harang is 6-7 with a 5.02 ERA in 17 starts this season. Even though he has posted a 4-2 record and 3.94 ERA in his last eight turns, he simply hasn't been able to reattain the form that made him one of the league's most reliable starters from 2005-07.

After going 43-30 with a 3.77 ERA in that span, which included a 2006 season that saw him lead the league with six complete games and 216 strikeouts, Harang's performance took a nosedive. Since the start of the 2008 season, he is 18-38 with a 4.63 ERA. His strikeout to walk ratio has dropped from 4.19 in 2007 to 2.68 this year.

The Reds already were rumored to be involved in the Cliff Lee Sweepstakes, and Harang's injury only figures to increase their interest. Entering play Tuesday with a two-game lead over the Cardinals in the NL Central, the Reds can't afford to let up in any regard, and if they're determined to bring Aroldis Chapman to the majors as a reliever initially -- which as far as we know remains the plan -- they could use some rotation help.

Ideally, the Reds would add a new and imposing piece to that rotation while also regaining Harang's services shortly after the All-Star break. If he's feeling better after his DL stint, even better. As much of a struggle as the last couple of years have been for Harang, he can still be a workhorse down the stretch for Cincinnati.