Cincinnati Reds’ Luis Castillo – lone star in bad rotation

In a season of historically bad starting pitching, Luis Castillo is a beacon in the night for the Cincinnati Reds.

The rotation for the Cincinnati Reds is the worst in MLB in 2017.  Over the course of the season the Reds have accumulated an ERA of 6.05 from their starters.  That’s the worst in the National League by a full run.

The Reds have had 14 different pitchers start games this season.  Bronson Arroyo started 14 games with an ERA of 7.35 and Homer Bailey has started 12 games with an ERA of 7.99.  That’s practically a full season of starts for one spot in the rotation with an ERA over 7.00.

The Reds’ starters average just under five innings per start.  They are one of only four teams to allow more than one home run per start and the only NL team to do so.  This has put the Reds on pace to allow the most home runs ever in MLB for a second straight season.

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Scott Feldman may have the most starts among Reds’ pitchers this year, but Castillo has been the best starter for the Reds.  Castillo is only 2-6, but his 1.19 WHIP tells the true story.  He is doing what he needs to do in order to be a successful MLB starting pitcher after coming over in the Dan Straily deal.

Luis Castillo has a history of success with the Cincinnati Reds as well as earlier in his young career in professional baseball.

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The most impressive stat for Castillo this year is that he is averaging 5 2/3 innings per start this season.  That leads the team.  Bailey and Amir Garrett have also started 12 games for the Reds this year, but they each average under 5 innings per start.

The other stat that stands out is home runs allowed.  Seven of the Reds’ starters have allowed more home runs than Castillo.  Of those seven only three have pitched more innings than Castillo.

Another number to look at is 74.  Castillo has 74 strikeouts in 70 1/3 innings.

The only other pitchers to start a game and average more than a strikeout per inning are Brandon Finnegan and Asher Wojciechowski.

Castillo also leads all of starters besides Finnegan, who is out for the rest of the season, in batting average against at .214.  The only pitcher that has pitched the entire season with a lower BAA is closer Raisel Iglesias.  Tim Adleman has the next lowest BAA at .262.

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The Reds have been searching high and low for starting pitching help in 2017.  For the most part the rotation has been an utter disaster.  Thankfully, Castillo is providing a beacon in their darkest hour.