Dan Straily was supposed to be a back of the rotation starter for the awful Cincinnati Reds as they look toward the future. In 2014 and 2015 with the Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs, and Houston Astros, he pitched in eleven games and only started four to the tune of a 6.86 ERA. However, since being claimed off of waivers on April 1st, Straily has made quite the impact.
So far this season, Straily has a career-best 3.57 ERA. He has gotten better throughout the year as he has the fourth-best ERA in the NL in August coming in at 2.45. Right above him? Some of baseball’s best starters in Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta, and Kyle Hendricks (all of whom pitch for the “hitting dominant” Cubs).
Consistency has been Straily’s trademark this year.
“He always gives us five or six or seven quality innings. I think that is, what, eight straight starts with two runs or less? That’s remarkeable, especially for a guy we didn’t know we were going to have coming out of spring training.” -Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart
Reds manager Bryan Price has lauded Straily’s difference-making pitching. Price, a former pitching coach, believes Straily’s deception is a big reason for his success this year. Straily is certainly hitting his stride at the right time as he will be a free agent this summer. Re-signing Straily will be a big priority for the Reds as they struggle to get better.
The Reds currently sit at 55-74 while Straily is in the midst of a breakout season.
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About Jack Stevenson