Cincinnati Reds may have found third starter for 2018 rotation

The Cincinnati Reds may have found a third starter to go with top prospects Luis Castillo and Tyler Mahle in 2018 starting rotation.

The Cincinnati Reds didn’t really have a consistent starter until they called up Luis Castillo. Scott Feldman has some stable moments, but nothing like Castillo. Now the Reds may have three starters heading into the off-season.

Castillo went 3-7 in fifteen starts. That doesn’t tell the true story as he had an ERA of 3.12 and a WHIP of 1.07. He also just short of six innings per start, throwing 89 1/3 for the Reds.

The most amazing stat for Castillo, though, is his 98 strikeouts. That’s 9.8 per nine innings. It also goes against a respectable 32 walks. He was the lone bright spot for a while.

Tyler Mahle went 1-2 in his first four MLB starts. He has a 2.70 ERA, but a WHIP of 1.50. That isn’t as sustainable and it shows in his shorter outings at just five innings per start.

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Mahle is solid, but a bit weak in a couple of other areas. He only has fourteen strikeouts in twenty innings to go with eleven walks. That ratio is not good enough long term, but he was good enough for people to clamor for his promotion.

Now the Reds need a third pitcher. Someone good enough to consistently eat innings. Thankfully, such a pitcher has emerged over the last few weeks.

Sal Romano has shown the Cincinnati Reds that he can go long into games after a shaky start in the big leagues.

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Sal Romano has made just as many starts as Castillo at fifteen with a better record of 5-7. Romano, however, has pitched eight fewer innings at 81 1/3. That comes out to just under five and a half innings per start.

Romano has an ERA of 4.43 and a WHIP of 1.46. Those a little higher than each of the other two starters. He also only has 66 strikeouts.

Romano has walked 35, which is close to the walk rate of Mahle. He has also surrendered 84 hits, but just nine home runs.

Those home runs are what have killed the rest of the Reds rotation this season.

Honestly, Romano may have saved the Reds for resetting their record from last season. They have six games to go and are 15 home runs allowed short of tying their own record. Post All-Star Game, the Reds were on pace to break the record again.

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Romano appears ready and able to be the third guy in a solid rotation next season. The Reds have some veterans and other prospects to fill in around the trio. With a little luck they can do nothing but get better.

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