Predicting the Cincinnati Reds post-trade deadline starting rotation

It's time for the Reds to see what Justin Dunn can do.

The Cincinnati Reds acquired Justin Dunn from the Seattle Mariners earlier this season as part of the return for Eugenio Suárez and Jesse Winker. Dunn has been sidelined for months with an injured shoulder and hasn't pitched in the major leagues since last summer.

Dunn has appeared in several rehab games and was recently re-assigned to Triple-A Louisville after his rehab stint expired. It's time for the Reds to see if Dunn has the chops to be part of next year's starting rotation or if they should develop the former New York Mets prospect as a reliever.

Dunn is just 26 years old, so there's plenty of time to see how he develops. Dunn will be arbitration eligible for the first time in his career after this season, but with an ERA of 5.28, it's doubtful that he'll make much more than the league minimum in 2023.

Dunn has totalled 21 innings in six starts at Triple-A Louisville, plus two innings a High-A Dayton during his rehab assignment. Dunn isn't a high-volume strikeout pitcher and usually pumps his fastball in there around 93 mph.

The Cincinnati Reds don't really have any other starting pitchers on the 40-man roster to turn to. Reiver Sanmartin seems to be thriving since moving to the bullpen and Vladimir Gutierrez is on the 60-day IL after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Connor Overton could be back soon and will probably take the place of one of the rookies later this season.