Cincinnati Reds: Predicting the Opening Day roster 2.0

Reds starting rotation (5)

Luis Castillo, Tyler Mahle, Wade Miley, Michael Lorenzen, Tejay Antone

Three of these five pitchers are virtual locks to be part of the starting rotation. David Bell will likely run out Luis Castillo on April 1st versus the St. Louis Cardinals. This will be Castillo’s second Opening Day start in the last three years. Sonny Gray, if he were healthy, would undoubtedly be part of the five-man rotation.

Following Castillo is likely to be Tyler Mahle. Last year, Mahle solidified his standing with the Reds organization. An injury to Anthony DeSclafani gave Mahle the opening he needed and the right-hander didn’t look back. Mahle has the potential to be a key cog in the middle of the Cincinnati rotation this season.

Miley will be part of the starting rotation, though there are better options within the organization. Miley gives Bell a left-handed, veteran presence on the mound. However, if last season was any indication of what we’re likely to see from the southpaw, Miley could lose his spot in the rotation by July.

Michael Lorenzen has been a reliever for the past few seasons, but the Reds are going to see if the athletic right-hander can handle the rigors of the starting rotation. Lorenzen is another player who may fall out of the rotation by midseason if he fails to produce.

Finally, look for Cincinnati to turn to Tejay Antone as the team’s No. 5 starter out of camp. Provided he’s healthy, Antone could join the rotation and be an above-average starter in the backend of the Reds rotation. Antone has the potential to be one of the stars of this team heading into the future.