Cincinnati Reds 2018 Season Preview – Starting Rotation

It is never too early to look ahead to next season for the Cincinnati Reds and here is a look at their 2018 starting rotation.

The Cincinnati Reds had a historically bad start to the season in the rotation for the 2017 season, but have hope for the 2018 season.  All of the pitchers in the opening day starting rotation spent time on the DL during the season.  At the end of August none of them were on the Reds’ active roster.

That’s the bad news for the Reds.  The good news is that it gave them the opportunity to see plenty of pitchers start during 2017.  The Reds had sixteen different pitchers start at least one game last season.

One of those pitchers, Luis Castillo, came over in the Dan Straily trade and wasn’t supposed to make it to the majors in 2017.  Castillo made fifteen starts covering 89 ⅓ innings.  He led all starters with a 1.07 WHIP, while striking out an amazing 98 and staking his claim on the opening day start.

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Another pitcher that debuted in 2017 and will start for the Reds in 2018 is Tyler Mahle.  He was one of the most dominating minor league pitchers over the last two seasons.  As the Reds top pitching prospect there are some that want to see Mahle return to Triple-A, but that should not happen.

After the top two prospects for the Cincinnati Reds, there are others that will battle for the final three spots in the rotation.

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A third prospect that has a large lead for a spot in the rotation is Sal Romano.  The Reds drafted Romano out of high school in Connecticut.  He made his MLB debut this season, starting sixteen games, going 5-8.

After the prospects, there is no doubt that a spot in the rotation is set aside for Anthony DeSclafani as long as he is healthy.  DeSclafani missed the entire 2017 with an injury.  In 2016 DeSclafani made twenty starts going 9-5 with a 3.28 ERA.

There is  another veteran that the Reds deem loyal and they pay him the most as a pitcher.  Homer Bailey looked like a borderline number five starter in eighteen starts this season.  If the Reds determine that he cannot pitch in the bullpen, then Bailey will get every chance to start.  He will likely start the season as the number five starter in 2018.

Next: Is Billy Hamilton about to be traded?