Cincinnati Reds: Five bold predictions for spring training

1. Sonny Gray is named the Opening Day starter

The Cincinnati Reds have the best starting rotation in the National League Central. Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray and Trevor Bauer are former All-Stars. Anthony DeSclafani was among the Top 20 in the NL in strikeouts and ERA last season. Though most would assume Castillo will draw his second consecutive Opening Day start, don’t sleep on Gray.

Castillo came out of the gates on fire in 2019. The right-hander went 3-1 in his first seven starts last season, put up a 1.45 ERA and struck out 50 batters through 43.1 innings. Bu comparison, Gray went 0-4 with a 3.89 ERA in his first seven starts, striking out 38 in 34.2 innings of work. Castillo was the talk of the team through the first month-plus of the 2019 season.

But, after the All-Star break, everything changed. Both Castillo and Gray went to the Midsummer Classic, and while La Piedra struck out 10-plus batters on four different occasions over the second half of the season, Gray was the better of the two pitchers down the stretch.

After the All-Star Game, Sonny Gray went 6-3 with a 2.19 ERA while holding opposing players to a dismal .160 batting average. Castillo showed a few cracks in his game, surrendering 13 homers over his final 14 starts and putting up a 4.78 ERA.

There’s no wrong choice to take the ball on Opening Day, and one could even argue that Trevor Bauer may get the nod. However, the choice likely comes down to Castillo and Gray. Depending on how things shake out, don’t be shocked if Gray takes the mound on March 26th against the St. Louis Cardinals.