Best Cincinnati Reds Ever: Bronson Arroyo v. Johnny Cueto

Second Round Matchup | No. 4 Bronson Arroyo v. No. 5 Johnny Cueto

The next second round matchup in our “Best Red Ever” tournament features a pair of workhorse starters for the Cincinnati Reds who led their respective pitching staffs.

Arroyo:

Bronson Arroyo’s first round win (73 percent) over Jeff Brantley in our Best Cincinnati Reds Ever tournament — along with a detailed write-up — can be found here.

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"Over his final seven season with the club, Arroyo eclipsed 200 innings in all but one season — he managed just 199 innings in 2011 — and had a sub-4.00 ERA in four of his final five seasons.The long leg-kicking righty was never a blow-it-by-you pitcher evident by his 5.9 K/9 career mark with Cincinnati, but his ability to eat innings — especially in a time where the Reds’ bullpen was in a similar state as it is today — and keep the Redlegs in the ball game was immeasurable. Despite leading the league in home runs allowed two separate times, Arroyo never started less than 32 games in a season while with the Reds and maintained a winning record in all but two seasons."

Highlights

— ranks 17th in career innings pitched (1,690 1/3) with the Reds

— ranks eighth in career strikeouts (1,112) with the Reds

— ranks first in career home runs allowed (252) with the Reds

— ranks ninth in career games started (265) for the Reds

— Gold Glove award winner

Cueto:

Johnny Cueto’s win in the first round (89 percent) over Kevin Mitchell — along with a detailed write-up — can be found here.

"Again in 2014 Cueto led the league in games started, was named to his first (and only) All-Star game, finished runner-up in the Cy Young voting behind Kershaw and just missed his career mark with a 4.6 WAR. He also received MVP votes that season as he won a career-high 20 games, sported a 2.25 ERA and led the league in innings pitched (243 2/3), strikeouts (242) and hits allowed per nine innings (6.2).Cueto maintained his status as Cincinnati’s ace up through the all-star break last season before the rebuilding Reds opted to cash in on his return-value and traded him to the Kansas City Royals for a trio of prospect pitchers; Brandon Finnegan, Cody Reed and John Lamb."

Highlights

— ranks seventh in career strikeouts (1,115) for the Reds

— ranks sixth in career WHIP (1.17) with the Reds

— ranks sixth in career batting average against (.235) with the Reds

— ranks 23rd in career wins (92) with the Reds

— All-Star selection

— Cy Young award runner-up

Next: Find the tournament breakdown here!

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