The Cincinnati Reds has the making of something they haven’t had in a few years. A starting rotation with real potential and increasing dependability.

Luis Castillo is the undisputed cornerstone of the Reds starting rotation. Castillo has a team-best and career-high 11 wins so far this season. His 2.63 ERA is also the best among the Reds starting pitchers. That ERA is also currently the fourth best in Major League Baseball. All in a breakout 2019 season that included starting on Opening Day and an All-Star appearance.

Sonny Gray joined Castillo as the Reds two All-Stars last month. Gray ultimately didn’t appear in the All-Star Game itself. Though he’s having an All-Star worthy season compared to many other Reds pitchers. His 13 homers given up are the least of any Reds starting pitcher this season. Castillo is the only pitcher faring better than Gray in many areas.

The Reds acquisition of Trevor Bauer last week provides a boost. At least a boost of confidence in the Reds pitching staff going forward. Bauer brings postseason quality experience to a staff that largely lacks it. He and Castillo will be crucial in the Reds hopes to contend next season. Either could rationally be the Opening Day starter in 2020.

Alex Wood is finally beginning to give the Reds the goods on the mound. After spending most of this season so far on the injured list. Wood is leaving a mostly good impression from his three starts of 2019. Pitching four scoreless innings out of 4.2 overall in his July 28th season debut. He was the winning pitcher in his second start in Atlanta on August 2nd. However, his most recent start on Thursday night was his worst of this season yet. Wood gave up five runs in three innings on the mound; in a rough night for both starters.

Anthony DeSclafani is three wins away from a career-high ten win season. DeSclafani’s currently the only Reds starting pitcher other than Castillo with a winning record. He currently has a 7-6 record in 22 starts this season. DeSclafani, unlike Wood, Bauer and Castillo doesn’t have much household name status beyond Cincinnati. However, he’s effective enough to be a potentially reliable part of Cincinnati’s starting rotation.

Record-wise, Tyler Mahle is struggling the most in Cincinnati’s starting rotation. Mahle currently has a career-worst 2-10 record in 19 starts this season. Giving up a team high 62 runs and 56 earned runs. Mahle is also currently recuperating from a left hamstring strain. He is currently on track to return later this month.

In Mahle’s defense, Cincinnati’s offense hasn’t been helpful in bailing him out. The Reds were either shutout or scored just one run in six of his ten defeats. While losing by two runs or less in five of those ten losing efforts. The rest of those defeats mostly came in blowout fashion. Producing a combination that is making 2019 difficult for him on the mound.

Pitching staff reliability is perhaps the most telling sign of the Reds improvements. They could be the Reds best pitching staff since 2013 or even at best the 1990’s. However, they’re a significant improvement from what Reds fans have seen through the late 2010’s. Cincinnati had one of the worst pitching staffs in baseball in recent years. Now they have the makings of a rotation that could fuel the Reds future aspirations.