PITTSBURGH -- The Reds have a bullpen problem. That was pretty evident in Monday night's 6-5 loss to the Pirates.

Statistically, the Reds went into Tuesday with the worst bullpen in Major League Baseball with a 5.77 ERA. It's early, but the Reds relievers are getting hit around at an alarming rate. Opponents are hitting .274 against Reds relievers.

The Reds' relievers had the fourth best ERA in the National League last year (3.29) and held opponents an NL-low .216 average. The Reds have more blown saves (four) than saves (three). The walk-to-strikeout ratio is 1.30, the second worst in MLB.

The overall struggles were compounded Monday night by the fact that everyone was not available after the bullpen pitched seven innings in the two previous days.

Things should get better as Jonathan Broxton and Sean Marshall get up to speed, and better still when Aroldis Chapman returns. But J.J. Hoover and Logan Ondrusek, who have struggled, are going to have to pitch better.

"When you don't have your traditional closer, like Chapman," Reds manager Bryan Price said, "it elevates everyone up into different positions. We certainly need to perform. We've got guys that have a history of performing. Logan and J.J. have been very, very accomplished pitchers with us the last couple of years.

"And we know they're certainly capable of pitching better than they have. I'm very confident they will."

"That being said, we'll do whatever we can to give everyone an opportunity to give us the best chance to win."

But of the pitchers who have pitched on a regular basis, so far only Sam LeCure (1.13) has an ERA under 4.66.

Middle relief could remain a concern until Alfredo Simon returns to the bullpen. That won't happen until Mat Latos is healthy, and Latos isn't even throwing.

Ondrusek and Hoover have struggled in particular. Ondrusek has an 11.25 ERA and has allowed nine hits and two walks in four innings. Hoover has a 13.50 ERA and has allowed seven hits and walked eight in 5 1/3 innings.

"The importance of those guys being able to perform is significant," Price said. "And I'm confident they're going to be able to turn it around. I know it's frustrating for them to struggle. Logan's only pitched in four games. It's hard to get onto a roll when you've played 19 games and you've only pitched four times."

Hoover only walked 26 in 66 innings last year.

"He's just not from a mechanical standpoint where he'd like to be or we'd like him to be," Price said. "I know he's working on it. He's not behind the ball consistently, so he's got a lot of those misses to the glove side, breaking balls that are missing off the corner, away."

A guy at Louisville who might be able to help is right-hander Jose "Jumbo" Diaz. He was impressive in spring training and he put up a 1.66 ERA last year for Louisville. He's appeared in six games for the Bats this year and has not allowed a run. He's walked three and struck out eight in 7 2/3 innings. He throws in the high 90s.

He is not on the 40-man roster and has never pitched in the majors.

Price made it sound like a roster move is unlikely.

"I don't know if we necessarily go get somebody," he said. "I think it could evaluate opportunities for Nick Christiani to come in and get those opportunities to pitch in those situations. You like your young guy to be able to come in there and ease into his role somewhat."

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