Tyler Mahle looks set to make Cincinnati Reds rotation, starts again today

It would certainly appear that Tyler Mahle has made the Cincinnati Reds roster for a second consecutive Opening Day. You may remember that last year, at the ripe age of 23, he picked up the first win for the Reds in their 2018 season, out-dueling Tyler Chatwood in a epic Tylertanic struggle on April 2nd with 6 scoreless innings.

Mahle was originally on the outside looking in to break camp with the big league Reds this year thanks to the numerous outside additions, but as MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon relayed earlier today, manager David Bell officially expects Alex Wood and his balky back to not be ready to go from day one.

That firmly puts Mahle on-schedule to round out the starting rotation, especially if he continues to pitch the way he has so far in Cactus League play. He’s yet to allow an earned run in his 6 IP to date, and has logged an impressive 11 K against just 2 BB in that time. Given that performance as well as the top-tier stuff he flashed at times last season, he probably should’ve been considered more of a legit candidate to make the starting rotation anyway this winter, but as things so often do in the injury-riddled world of big league pitching, it appears things have sorted themselves out in his favor, for now.

Mahle will lead the Reds on Monday against the Colorado Rockies, who’ll host at their Talking Stick complex in Scottsdale, AZ. You’re in luck if you can track down a TV, too, as the game will air on MLB Network courtesy of the Rockies feed.

First pitch is set for 4:10 PM ET. Hat tip to The Athletic’s C. Trent Rosecrans for tweeting out the travel roster for the day.