Cincinnati Reds – Luis Castillo has a better second half than Dan Straily

When the Cincinnati Reds traded Dan Straily for Luis Castillo, few expected Castillo to be better in 2017.

The Cincinnati Reds trade of Dan Straily was somewhat controversial.  They traded a workhorse in Straily for three prospects.  Only reliver Austin Brice was expected to have a chance at the big leagues in 2017.

Instead, Castillo made his MLB debut on June 23 and has been in the Reds’ rotation ever since.  He is two and seven with a 3.32 ERA over 14 starts.  Over 81 ⅓ innings, Castillo has only allow 60 hits and ten home runs.  Those are numbers unmatched in the Reds’ rotation.

Castillo has also struck out an impressive 88 batters as a rookie so far.  He has walked 32, which is respectable for a rookie starter.  He has acutally allowed fewer runs than walks.

Meanwhile, Straily has had a mixed bag season for the Miami Marlins.  He has made all 27 starts that his spot in the rotation has been through.  However, he only has sixteen decisions at eight and eight.

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Straily continues to be a workhorse with 151 ⅔ innings, averaging 5 ⅔ innings per start.  This is a little bit below expectations heading into the season.  Straily has a 3.80 ERA, allowing 134 hits and 23 home runs.

Looking at the two pitchers, the Cincinnati Reds have the better one in the second half on their current roster.

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Castillo is 1-6 over ten starts in the second half, but has been much better than that.  He has a 3.39 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP.  He has also averaged nearly six innings per start, tossing 58 ⅓ frames in the second half.

Straily for his part is one and four over nine starts, but he has only been a little better than that.  He has a 4.84 ERA in the second half and a 1.45 WHIP.  He has only averaged 5 ⅓ innings per start, tossing 48 ⅓ frames in the second half.

Castillo has only allowed 38 hits and five home runs in the second half.  He struck out 58, while walking 22.

This has led to allowing 22 earned runs.

Meanwhile, Straily has allowed 58 hits and nine home runs since the break.  He has struck out and walked fewer batters than Castillo at 41 and fifteen, respectively.  Straily has allowed 26 earned runs in the second half.

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Castillo is Straily’s equal or superior at every measurable statistic since he made his MLB debut.  In the second half of the season Castillo has shown himself to be the better pitcher.  If he keeps this up next year, the Reds are the clear winners in the trade.