MLB: The Five Worst Pitching Staffs Post-Deadline
By Ron Juckett
CINCINNATI REDS
With the worst ERA in all of baseball at 5.11, the Reds have earned a spot on this list. Yet, they are 15-12 since July 1st. Behind Anthony DeSclafani’s 6-0 record with a healthy ERA of 2.93, they are showing signs of life as the season crawls to a close.
Starter Dan Straily and closer Tony Cingrani have Adjusted ERA+ over 10 and allow under 7.0 hits-per-9. Folk hero Homer Bailey is pitching again. All the pieces are there for Cincinnati to make the rest of 2016 respectable.
Aside from that, the Reds have used 28 pitchers this year. Fourteen different starters have taken the hill. An injury cut Alfredo Simon out of the starting rotation, but not even his fan club thinks his 2-7 record and 9.45 ERA is anything to cheer about. Cody Reed, at 23, is learning the hard way how the Major Leagues work. He has yet to win this year, dropping all six decisions with an ERA of 7.30. Before John Lamb was demoted, his ERA was 6.43. For Lamb, his 5.23 ERA at Triple-A Louisville will not get him back to Cincy faster.
Although their Adjusted ERA+ is an MLB-worst 83, they close the season with all the major players still on the roster.
Things can only get better from here.
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