For two years running the same thing has wounded the Reds. They can get a glut of young, fierce starters together, and have them all be MLB ready, but they can't stay healthy enough to bring the team forward much. And then the depth options go and pretty soon the Reds are flying through starters like paperclips. Julian Aguiar, Carson Spiers, Casey Legumina, eventually Rhett Lowder, all of them thrust into starting roles, perhaps too quickly, due to a lack of healthy options. And unlike some teams, who can lose all their starters and still win a World Series, the Reds are actually set back by this. Y'know, like you're supposed to be.
And so, perhaps even with the presence of Terry Francona adding common sense, the Reds finally have a pitching formula that seems successful. Seriously. Trust me, this one's gonna work.
To refresh, the Reds began the season with a rotation consisting of Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Brady Singer, Nick Martinez and Carson Spiers. Not...ideal, to be very honest, and you can tell a few people [Williamson, Lowder, Abbott for a spell] were too injured to start the season with the team. But...that's still five proven starting options...with depth options behind him. Graham Ashcraft began this season in the bullpen [and he's been doing extremely well], but...were something to go wrong, THERE is the depth starter. Same with Brent Suter. That was what Nick Martinez was here for, he's already in the rotation anyhow. The Reds NEEDED guys like this, 'break in case of emergency' guys who could ensure the rotation doesn't drown again. Plus, Andrew Abbott returned yesterday, and did very well against the Pirates, so now the Reds have three depth options with Ashcraft, Suter and Spiers.
I'm saying this like it's revolutionary but it kind of is for the Reds. Their whole thing is moving forward with their hard-throwing pitchers and being gobsmacked when they get injured. So this change of pace does instill a bit more confidence, especially considering the quality of starting pitching thus far.
Hunter Greene, as he should be, is the standout. So far he's got a 1.31 ERA, 23 Ks and a very low 0.629 WHIP. This is the kind of material Greene is capable of now that he knows not to fully focus on flame throwing. Nick Lodolo has been similarly on target so far, with a 0.96 ERA despite lower strikeout totals. And Brady Singer, as anyone could have told you upon the India trade, has benefited from a much less cutthroat rotation environment. He's 3-0 with a 3.18 ERA and 18 Ks, and has been consistent without being terribly flashy. I'm glad he's finally in position to do so.
The Reds themselves still aren't perfect. They had McLain then lost him, and...now that they've lost their best hitter, people besides Elly need to step up and they haven't yet. Gavin Lux, CES, Spencer Steer and Jeimer Candelario have all been excessively mediocre. Without Alexis Diaz they're surviving on Emilio Pagan, but who knows how long that'll last. But having the rotation in place really helps, and suggests a much better 2025, and a road to competition. A lot more will need to come into line, but for now this will do.
Coming Tonight: The Mariners have farmed a lot of great young pitchers, but he might be their triumph.
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