CINCINNATI -- The Reds made moves prior to Wednesday's game against the Cubs to fortify their bullpen, designating struggling reliever Blake Wood for assignment while selecting the contracts of right-handers Luke Farrell and Alejandro Chacin from Triple-A Louisville.
Outfielder Phillip Ervin was also optioned to Louisville.
Chacin and Farrell debuted for the Reds in their 9-3 loss. They were the 27th and 28th pitchers, respectively, used by the club this season -- four shy of last year's club record. Chacin entered with two out in the fourth inning and his first batter, Tommy La Stella, hit a two-run home run. Farrell followed with three scoreless innings.
Wood, 32, was 1-4 with a 5.65 ERA in 55 appearances, but his troubles really accelerated in recent weeks. Over his past seven games, he had a 34.36 ERA, allowing 14 earned runs, 12 hits, five walks and two home runs to go with four strikeouts over his last 28 batters faced in 3 2/3 innings.
During Tuesday night's 13-9 loss to the Cubs, Wood entered in the eighth inning and allowed the first six batters he faced to reach safely -- including three walks that loaded the bases with none out. Five runs scored to open up a wide margin.
"We needed two relievers after yesterday's game," manager Bryan Price said. "Unfortunately, in Blake's situation, he could probably use the repetitions in a different environment, but he doesn't have any options left."

In 2016 after he was signed as a free agent, Wood led the Reds' bullpen with 70 appearances and 76 2/3 innings.
"It's unfortunate, because he's been our most durable reliever over the last two years," Price said. "He's taken the ball every time I've handed it to him, quite often after throwing two innings the day before. And that has value in and of itself. His recent struggles kind of led to him being vulnerable to this situation."

Farrell, who is the son of Red Sox manager John Farrell, was claimed off waivers from the Dodgers on Aug. 9. He began this season in the Royals' organization with Triple-A Omaha, where he went 7-4 with a 4.07 ERA in 17 games, including 16 starts. The 26-year-old pitched 2 2/3 innings on July 1 for the Royals, allowing five runs in his lone big league game.
"Right now, there's been no unpacking," Farrell said. "It's been kind of a merry-go-round for a while. Honestly, I'm just going day-by-day. Whenever there's an opportunity, I'm going to do everything I can to take advantage of it."
The Royals designated Farrell for assignment on July 24 and traded him to the Dodgers on July 28. In two games for Louisville, he had a 19.06 ERA, with 12 earned runs and eight hits over 5 2/3 innings.
Farrell was promoted over prospects on the 40-man roster like Amir Garrett, Rookie Davis or Cody Reed.
"We felt they were better served continuing to pitch every fifth day and work on their game," Price said. "For this particular role, at this particular time of the season, it seemed like Luke was the best fit."
Chacin, 24, began with the Reds' organization in 2010 as a 16-year-old out of Venezuela. He had a 2.60 ERA in 44 appearances for Louisville. He became the 24th Reds player to make his big league debut in the last two years, which is the most in the Majors.
Bailey feels OK
Reds starting pitcher Homer Bailey, who exited Tuesday's game after three scoreless innings with an irritation in the back of his right shoulder, reported no problems on Wednesday.

"I don't expect to miss a start or anything. It feels pretty good," Bailey said.