2015 In Review: Anthony DeSclafani

By The Numbers

184.2 IP, 9 W, 13 L, 4.05 ERA, 3.67 FIP, 98 ERA+, 7.36 K/9, 2.68 BB/9, 2.75 K/BB, 0.83 HR/9, .318 BABIP

Anthony DeSclafani, if you don't remember, was the main piece of the Mat Latos trade that Walt Jocketty pulled off during the 2014 Winter Meetings.  At the time, it was considered a win.  In hindsight, it is also considered a win because we was better and cheaper than Mat Latos.

What we ended up getting from Mr. Disco was the anchor of the Reds rotation for 2015.  That isn't saying a whole lot after the injury to Bailey and the trades of Cueto and Leake.  However, DeSclafani took the mound whenever asked and did quite well for his first full season.  He had his bumps, but he also shined.

2015 In Review

DeSclafani looked like he was all that was advertised to start the season.  He was an early favorite to win the Rookie of the Year if you only count April statistics.  In the first month of the year DeSclafani posted a 1.04 after 26 innings pitched and four starts.  May didn't go so well with an ERA over 5.00.  It seemed that he lost his strikeout pitch, was walking too many, and gave up a few too many dingers.

However, there were some silver linings to Disco's 2015.  He was still getting hit, and hit hard in August and September, but he did some things different the last two months.  His ERA hovered around 4.00.  In August, his K/9 was 8.4, and in September it was over 9.6 K/9.  He limited the walks, though, and in both months his K/BB ratio was over 7.00.

That is absolutely fantastic.  That is other wordly.  If he can continue to post those kind of strikeout and walk numbers, he'll only continue to get better.

Looking Forward

If there is one thing Anthony DeSclafani has going for him, it's that he's the old man in the rotation.  Well, that's until Homer Bailey gets back.  Shout out all rookie rotations and stuff like that.  Right now, if I had a guess, I'd say he is the front runner to the be the Opening Day starter in Cincytown in 2016.

It could also be Raisel Iglesias, but I'd like to error on the side of the safe choice.  Plus, Iglesias will probably still be on some kind of innings control.  DeSclafani won't be.  He should be able to pitch over 200 innings, and if he can do that at a 100 ERA+ that's even better.  We'll all get the benefit watching him continue to grow and mature on the mound.

Chances of making the 2016 Cincinnati Reds roster: 99%