CINCINNATI -- There are nagging injuries and then there are strained oblique muscles, which are never welcome and -- like a bad houseguest -- rarely know when it's time to leave. That's what Reds starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani continues to deal with, long after he was expected to be ready to return.
DeSclafani remains shut down with a strained left oblique after he experienced a setback Friday during a rehab assignment start with Class A Dayton.
"I'll be doing stuff again soon. I feel like I'm too close," DeSclafani said Wednesday morning. "I need to get over this, over the hump with this thing. I'm not back to square one by any means. It's just making sure I don't go back to square one and being cautious with it. I've come too far. I'll take a couple of days and hopefully this will be a little quicker coming back with the rehab process because I've gotten stretched out."
Originally expected to be the Opening Day starter, DeSclafani felt discomfort in his oblique late in Spring Training and opened the season on the disabled list. After one setback last month during a simulated game, he cleared all the hurdles and was able to start a rehab assignment at Double-A Pensacola on April 23 with four innings and no complications.
Friday was expected to be DeSclafani's second and final rehab outing before his activation this week. Then he felt some discomfort during his five-inning start.
"I was happy with the way everything was going. What I felt the last two innings of rehab, I wasn't able to continue like that," DeSclafani said. "My body was telling me to give it a little bit more time before I go full force.
"It stinks not being able to help the team. There's a fine line and I don't want to hurt the team either. If it's affecting me and I'm not making good pitches, it doesn't help."
DeSclafani has yet to be cleared to resume playing catch as the team wants to make sure that all of the discomfort is gone.
Worth noting
• Reds starter Homer Bailey (Tommy John surgery) also remains shut down from throwing after he sustained soreness in his right elbow during his second rehab assignment start. Bailey feels better but still has some ulnar nerve irritation in his elbow that must be completely gone before he can throw again.
• Catcher Devin Mesoraco is going to seek a second opinion before deciding his next step. Mesoraco was diagnosed Monday with a torn labrum in his left shoulder. If he elects to have surgery, it would end his season.