Mat Latos Becoming Cincinnati Reds’ Ace


Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

Prior to the 2012 season, the Cincinnati Reds made a trade with the San Diego Padres that sent Mat Latos to the Queen City. Mat Latos has been excellent for the Cincinnati Reds and he is becoming their ace.

In 2012, Mat Latos went 14-4 and put up a solid 3.48 earned run average, and this season he has been even better; he has an outstanding record of 12-3 and has an earned run average of just 3.04. Latos has started 24 games this year, and he has 16 quality starts — that’s No. 12 for the most in the National League.

The definition of a quality start is where a pitcher throws at least six innings and gives up no more than three runs, but really, if you give up less than five runs, you’re keeping your team in the ball game most of the time. If you take away two of Latos’ starts, then he would have kept his team in the game in each of his starts. He has allowed more than five runs only twice this season, but even with the best pitchers, things like that are going to happen.

Mat Latos might not be the best pitcher in the National League, and he’ll probably never be a Cy Young winner, but he sure is an important part of the Reds’ rotation. It’s fun to watch Mat Latos pitch, it’s also fun to think about that fact that he will be a Red until, at least, 2016. The Reds rotation should be great for a long time to come because not only will Latos be here for a while, but so will guys like Tony Cingrani and Mike Leake. Also, Johnny Cueto will return to the rotation once he is healthy again.

Coop Ledford is a Cincinnati Reds writer for www.RantSports.com. You can follow him on Twitter @CoopLed and add him on Google Plus.


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