Luis Castillo to Start 2019 Opening Day

[Senzling Hot]

I would have given it to Gray. He’s been a top of the rotation starter, the only guy on the staff who has.

I agree most casual fans don’t care, mostly because they don’t know who is even on the staff. But anyone paying attention should be shocked. Castillo is inexperienced, coming off a down year, and has struggled all spring. None of that says “opening day starter.” His only argument is that he was the best pitcher last season on a horrible Reds rotation.

That said, I don’t anyone is angry about it. Just shocked.

He was 24th in the NL in ERA. Not great but pretty good and not a down year.He is a young pitcher who had a few bad months and a few good months like a lot of young pitchers. He has the stuff to be a #1. He was their best pitcher last year and expected to turn the corner this year. You reward him for this and show confidence. Why knowledgeable baseball fans would put so much stock into 8 innings of spring baseball makes no sense.

[757690]

He was 24th in the NL in ERA. Not great but pretty good and not a down year.He is a young pitcher who had a few bad months and a few good months like a lot of young pitchers. He has the stuff to be a #1. He was their best pitcher last year and expected to turn the corner this year. You reward him for this and show confidence. Why knowledgeable baseball fans would put so much stock into 8 innings of spring baseball makes no sense.

His ERA went up by a run and his FIP up by half a run. He had a down year.

I don’t think anyone is putting much stock into his eight innings of spring training, alone, but combined with his inexperience, and troubles last year, it’s a surprising decision.

[mth123]

I'm surprised but not outraged. Castillo was better last year than any of the guys they acquired. Gray and Disco are much bigger question marks. Roark is a career number 4 type. Wood might be a little better than Roark, but he's hurt and coming off a season where his fastball was down a couple MPH. If the OD starter is supposed to be the team's best pitcher, Castillo is probably the choice. I'd have gone with a hotter hand, but I get the reasoning for choosing Castillo.

[redsrule2500]

He's been awful. Beyond awful.

Weird choice.

[BCubb2003]

It was him or Matt Harvey.

[Roy Tucker]

Homer Bailey was the OD starter last year. Raisel Iglesias started in 2016. Jimmy Haynes, Cory Lidle, Scott Feldman, Paul Wilson, and Joey Hamilton were recent Opening Day starters. So I’m ok with Castillo. He’s key to the future of the club.

[Roy Tucker]

Fun list to look at. Lots of expected names and a few “him?? really??” names.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List...rting_pitchers

[757690]

Fun list to look at. Lots of expected names and a few “him?? really??” names.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List...rting_pitchers

Mike Remlinger is the one that turned my head. I didn’t even remember that happening, lol.

[marcshoe]

Wasn't that when they traded Burba right before the season started?

[KronoRed]

It was, back when Jimbo kept trying to turn relievers into starters with the expected disastrous results.

[Ron Madden]

https://www.mlb.com/reds/news/luis-c...g-day-for-reds

[KronoRed]

Maybe they want him to start a streak, he is the most likely to still be around here in 3-5 years.

[Falls City Beer]

Maybe they’re thinking the bullpen will be rested and ready to go.

[cumberlandreds]

He will continue to struggle all spring long, then pitch a shutout on opening day.

I was thinking no hitter but will settle for a shutout. Not a big deal. Its one game out of a 162. If he struggles much in the regular season he won't be in the rotation long anyway. But I suspect he will be just fine.

[HokieRed]

No surprise here. He was my pick when we did the prediction thread some time ago. He earned it through last year's suffering.