Reds vs. Pirates: Pitching preview, prediction, and more

The Reds’ rookies excelled in 2021.

While Nick Castellanos, Joey Votto, and a healthy Jesse Winker received, and rightfully so, much of the headlines this year, there’s no denying the incredible contributions the Redlegs received from the new guys on the block. Hopefully, this will be remembered as the year the nucleus of the next great Cincinnati Reds team first appeared on the scene.

Second baseman Jonathan India is the favorite to become the Reds’ first NL Rookie of the Year since Scott Williamson was honored following the 1999 season. If India claims the prize, he’ll be the first Cincinnati rookie position player to be crowned since 1988, when Chris Sabo won the award.

Even though he didn’t have the number of opportunities as India had, there’s no denying Tyler Stephenson’s time has arrived.  Regardless of the front office’s decision regarding Tucker Barnhart’s future, it’s obvious Stephenson should be the club’s No. 1 backstop for next season.

Let’s not forget the outstanding performance of right-hander Vladimir Gutierrez as well. Despite pitching on fumes the last few weeks of the season, the 25-year-old Cuban proved to be more than capable of being a successful pitcher at the major league level.

Finally, we haven’t even mentioned Tony Santillan and Jose Barrero, who both saw time with the club this year, and who isn’t excited to see top pitching prospects Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo hopefully take the next step in their development and open the 2022 season in the Queen City. So it’s an exciting time for Reds Country.

Prediction

Look for the Reds to take two of three from the Pirates at PNC Park and conclude the 2021 season with 84 victories which will be the fourth most in a season for the club in the last 20 years.

On a personal note, a huge “thank you” to Reds Country for reading and commenting on all 52 series previews in this roller coaster of a ride known as the 2021 Cincinnati Reds. The readers of Blog Red Machine are among the most passionate of any fanbase in the game, and I’m grateful to be a small part of the team. How about we do this again in March of 2022?