Over the last two weeks, the Cincinnati Reds’ win streak has taken the sports world by storm. Even bigger than the sports world, the entire city of Cincinnati has been on an emotional high. Achieving the longest winning streak in franchise history in 66 years, the Reds seem like they just might have turned their season around. Now with the 12-game win streak over, where does this young team go from here?
During the course of the Reds’ win streak, the team found multiple ways to win. Half of the games were 1 run victories, there were low-scoring pitchers duals, a blowout win, and multiple come-from-behind wins. Friday night’s game saw the Reds come back from a 5-0 first-inning deficit vs the Atlanta Braves. So just how good were these young energetic players during the streak that captured a city?
Unfortunately, there won't be a 98-game win streak to end the regular season. pic.twitter.com/6ymoi8Mza9
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) June 24, 2023
Reds Win Streak Breakdown:
Offensive firepower has been something the Reds’ rookies have provided game after game. Each night, seemingly someone new in the lineup showed up with the clutch hit, stolen base, or worked a long at-bat for a walk. The next guy-up mentality has been one this 2023 Reds team has carried since the jump. During the Reds’ win streak, the offense showed they weren’t a fluke. From June 10 through June 23, the length of the Reds’ win streak, here are the offensive numbers and league rankings the Reds were able to put together.
- AVG: .262 (11th)
- OPS: .841 (2nd)
- wOBA: .362 (2nd)
- wRC+: 121 (T-3rd)
- Home Runs: 22 (T-2nd)
The offense has kept this team in every single game. But offense is just half of the battle when it comes to baseball. What has the pitching done? As mentioned above, the Reds’ win streak was kept alive more than once with a come-from-behind win. So just how rock solid was the starting rotation?
- ERA: 4.52 (T-15th)
- FIP: 4.96 (23rd)
- xFIP: 5.19 (26th)
- SIERA: 5.05 (25th)
- BB%: 8.0 (20th)
Starting Rotation Help is a Must For the Reds Moving Forward
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As the Reds and the 2023 season move forward, so too does the front office. This team is desperately in need of starting rotation help. When you look at the rotation from the beginning of the season, to where it is now, a lot has changed. Hunter Greene has looked good of late but currently is on the Injured List with hip pain. Nick Lodolo hasn’t pitched since the beginning of May. Graham Ashcraft has seemed to of completely fallen off his game. After spending the entire winning streak on the injured list, Ashcraft came back into the rotation on Saturday. His time away was something most of Reds country was hopeful would help. He lasted just four innings, giving up six earned runs on 10 hits including three home runs. Luke Weaver has been an innings eater, and that’s about it. If the Reds were serious about the 2023 season, Weaver wouldn’t make another start for the Reds. He has a 6.86 ERA over 12 starts. His 2.09 HR/9 has bit the Reds multiple times.
Starting pitching is a necessity across the league. More so than in recent years, the need for it by multiple teams may be a slugfest in who can get the available cream of the crop. All throughout the Reds’ win streak, they proved they are a team who is never out of the fight. They shouldn’t have to come from behind. There are options out there for the Reds to go after to shore up the rotation. The earlier they jump on it, not only will it better the team, it may come at a lesser price tag.
Main photo credits:
Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
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