Anthony DeSclafani is poised for one of the biggest honors in baseball — starting pitcher on opening day for the Cincinnati Reds.
The time-honored tradition of the Reds playing the first game of the baseball season may have went by the big market wayside. But the cradle of professional baseball still gets its due with a home game for opening day.
DeSclafani is the favorite to start opening day for the Reds by default. The Reds no longer have a Johnny Cueto or even Aaron Harang to give the ball for the prestigious start.
DeSclafani was the ace-by-default for the Reds last year once Cueto and Mike Leake were traded. He finished his rookie campaign with a 4.05 ERA in 31 starts and 184.2 innings.
A bad final month of the season took some of the air out of DeSclafani’s rookie year. He posted a 4.93 ERA in his final six starts of the season. His splits for the year showed he was a much better pitcher on the road than in Cincinnati. He had a 3.00 ERA on the road and a 5.11 ERA at home.
Raisel Iglesias is the only other starting pitcher besides DeSclafani who would seem to have a shot at opening day starter. Iglesias has yet to pitch a spring training game but could be on the verge of doing so soon.
The Reds do have prospects who could steal DeSclafani’s opening day thunder.
Robert Stephenson has only pitched in 55.2 Triple-A innings but could get the nod to start opening day if the Reds decide to make a splash with the event.
The same could be said for Cody Reed, who has not pitched in Triple-A at all but is showing his major league stuff in spring training. So far this spring, Reed has surrendered just one earned run in five innings of work.
Robb Hoff writes about the Cincinnati Reds for OutsidePitch MLB. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
The post Anthony DeSclafani has case to start opening day for Cincinnati Reds appeared first on OutsidePitchMLB.
