Baseball notes: Reds pitcher Homer Bailey is out for the season

Reds starter Homer Bailey will have surgery on his pitching elbow and miss the rest of the season, a significant setback to Cincinnati’s struggling staff.

Bailey tore a ligament in his right elbow and will have Tommy John surgery next Friday. He took a couple of days to weigh his options and made the decision Friday. The Reds expect him to be fully recovered in time for next season.

It’s been a tough year for Bailey, who threw no-hitters in 2012 and 2013.

He got a $105 million, six-year contract before last season and went 9-5 in 23 starts with a 3.71 ERA before having surgery in September to repair a tear in his right forearm by the elbow. He was still recovering from the operation when spring training started, leaving him unable to fully work out.

Bailey opened the season on the disabled list, then went on to make two starts. He threw 92 pitches in a 5-2 loss at St. Louis and 79 in a 4-2 defeat at Milwaukee. After the second start, he felt soreness in the elbow.

An MRI exam on Monday found the ligament tear. He took a few days to consider his options.

“We determined the best option with the most predictable outcome is to surgically repair the ligament,” General Manager Walt Jocketty said.

Right-hander Michael Lorenzen was called up to replace Bailey in the rotation. Lorenzen made his major league debut Wednesday and took a loss against Milwaukee.

Rodriguez sits

Alex Rodriguez was not in the New York Yankees’ lineup Friday at Boston as he remained one homer away from tying Willie Mays’ total of 660, fourth most in baseball history. Rodriguez hit his 659th homer last Sunday but is five for 36 with one homer in his last 10 games and went 0 for 6 Wednesday.

Etc.

Kansas City shortstop Alcides Escobar was placed on the seven-day concussion disabled two days after being struck in the face by a pitch from Cleveland’s Danny Salazar. . . . The Indians put left-handed starter TJ House on the 15-day disabled list because of a sore throwing shoulder. . . . Minnesota put right-handed starter Tim Stauffer on the DL because of a strained chest muscle. . . .

The New York Mets promoted second baseman Dilson Herrera from triple-A Las Vegas and shifted Daniel Murphy to third base, where they plan to keep him until injured David Wright returns. . . . Toronto sent rookie left-handed starter Daniel Norris to triple-A Buffalo.