Reds: 2 players who justified team’s faith and 1 who hasn’t

Tyler Mahle has rewarded the Reds’ faith as the team’s best starter.

Tyler Mahle has improved beyond measure over the past two seasons. The former fifth-round pick has finally turned the corner, and the Cincinnati Reds are being rewarded handsomely for sticking with Mahle through the tough stuff.

Last season, Mahle was not supposed to be a starting pitcher in the big leagues. Prior to the season, after the Reds had signed left-handed starter Wade Miley, it was assumed that Mahle would be optioned to Triple-A Louisville to begin the season while Miley, Trevor Bauer, Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray, and Anthony DeSclafani pitched every fifth day in the majors.

As it turned out, the coronavirus pandemic, and some early-season injuries to both Miley and DeSclafani found Cincinnati in need of an additional starting pitcher. Mahle exceeded expectations, going 2-2 with a 3.59 ERA in 10 games, nine of which were starts. This season, however, Mahle has established himself as, perhaps, the Reds best starting pitcher.

Tyler Mahle is 5-2 in 12 starts this season and is currently carrying a 3.32 ERA. If you throw out two of Mahle’s worst starts (May 2nd versus the Cubs and May 20th versus the Giants), Mahle hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in his other 10 starts.

Where Mahle has struggled this season is efficiency. The right-hander has struggled to get past the fifth inning on five occasions this season. If Mahle can continue to build on the progress he’s made thus far in 2021, he could looking at a contract extension this winter.

Amir Garrett has been the most disappointing player on the Reds this season.

Now, I know a lot of fans, when asked who’s been the most disappointing player on the Reds this season would say, “Take your pick.” While there’s some truth to that, I think the one player who’s betrayed the trust of the coaches and the front office more than anyone has been reliever Amir Garrett.

Garrett, who’s never shy about telling you what he thinks, had said all offseason that he was going to be Cincinnati’s closer. We’re nearly one-third of the way through the season, and Garrett has two of the team’s 14 saves. Garrett himself is 2-for-4 in save opportunities, and I highly doubt David Bell will be counting on AG anytime soon.

Garrett is sporting a 9.56 ERA. Garrett has allowed 17 runs on 17 hits with 17 strikeouts over 16 innings of work. AG has also walked 12 batters. Garrett’s 49 ERA+ is well below what the left-hander posted last season (202 ERA+). Garrett’s H/9 (9.6), HR/9 (3.9), BB/9 (6.8), and WHIP (1.913) are all career-worsts.

Amir Garrett’s lack of production makes an already-shaky bullpen even worse. He and Lucas Sims were thought to be in competition for the closer’s spot. While Sims hasn’t played up to his potential, the 27-year-old has six saves on the season and has 35 strikeouts in 23 innings of work.

One could easily argue that Eugenio Suárez, Nick Senzel, and maybe even Shogo Akiyama could fall into this category as well. However, Suárez changed defensive positions midway through spring training and has regained some semblance of his swing.

Senzel has been incredibly versatile this season and has played well when he’s healthy. The 25-year-old is currently on the IL following knee surgery. And while Akiyama’s fallen short of expectations, his playing time has taken a hit due to the elite-level of play from Nick Castellanos and Jesse Winker and his absence from spring training due to family concerns and injury.