Eric Hartline – USA Today Sports Images
The Cincinnati Reds were projected by most people to be one of the best teams in Major League Baseball before the start of the season. They currently trail the St. Louis Cardinals by 1.5 games in the National League Central, but it’s hard to debate the fact that they still belong in the conversation as one of the top teams in the entire league.
Obviously they have a dangerous lineup at the plate as they roll Joey Votto, currently hitting .358, Brandon Phillips, leading the NL with 40 RBIs right now, and other guys like Shin-Soo Choo and Jay Bruce into the batter’s box. However, their starting pitching has undoubtedly been the biggest reason for their success early this season.
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The Reds starting rotation currently has the second best combined ERA, 3.21, in the Majors, as well as holding a great 1.17 combined WHIP. They also have a solid 18-9 combined win/loss record to start the season and have a 3.35 strikeout-to-walk ratio, the third best in the league. Perhaps the most impressive part about the beginning of this season for Reds starters, though, is the fact that all six pitchers that have started games for them have ERAs under 3.30.
Homer Bailey, Mat Latos, Mike Leake and Bronson Arroyo have all made every one of their scheduled starts while Johnny Cueto missed several starts due to an oblique injury, allowing Tony Cingrani to make six starts in his place. Bailey has the lowest ERA of the bunch at 3.09 while Arroyo has the highest, but his is just at 3.28. They have all been great and reliable on the bump this year for Cincinnati.
If the Reds starting rotation continues to dominate at this kind of level, they are going to be an extremely difficult team to beat. They have the bats to produce runs and the pitching staff that doesn’t give up many runs at all. Though it’s simple, that’s one of the most proven formulas for success in the MLB.
Cody Williams is a Senior Writer with Rant Sports. Follow Cody on Twitter @TheSizzle20 and like his Facebook page.
