Anthony DeSclafani

DeSclafani added 50-plus innings to his 2018 total and shaved a full run off his ERA, providing stability at the back end of the Reds' rotation. His strikeout and walk rates were very close to his 2018 marks at 24% and 7%, respectively, but DeSclafani trimmed his home-run rate which was no small feat in 2019. The long ball had been a major problem in 2018 (1.88 HR/9). Part of his improvement can be chalked up to an increase in velocity, as DeSclafani added a tick to his fastball and close to three ticks to his breaking pitches. New pitching coach Derek Johnson is probably to thank for that, as he did wonders for the entire staff. If this is the new baseline, DeSclafani will be a quality fourth or fifth starter for years to come as he enters his 30s, though the injury concerns still loom. Disco missed all of 2017 with an elbow issue and significant time in 2018 with an oblique strain.

Disco Fever was not a hit in Cincinnati in 2018, though if you squint you can still see reasons for optimism for DeSclafani. After missing 2017 with an elbow injury, he then missed the first two months of 2018 with an oblique injury, the second time in three years that injury occurred. After finally returning in June, he posted a 4.93 ERA and allowed a whopping 24 homers in 115 innings. It looked like he was turning a corner after the All-Star break, but then he got crushed again in September, posting a 6.75 ERA in 28 innings. DeSclafani's struggles against left-handers were particularly troubling; they hit .284/.342/.575 with 15 homers in 233 plate appearances against him. Of his five pitches, only his slider was a plus pitch against lefties -- look for him to increase the 29% usage of that pitch against lefties in 2019. The other note of hope for DeSclafani was that he added tick of velocity to his offerings over the last two months of the season.

Coming off an encouraging 2016 campaign, DeSclafani was a favorite of those looking to build a fantasy staff on the cheap. Unfortunately, things did not pan out for DeSclafani or his owners. The right-hander was diagnosed with a UCL sprain in spring training and toed the rubber for only two rehab starts all season, the second of which he left with elbow tendinitis. DeSclafani pitched in the fall instructional league, throwing all of his pitches without pain. The impressive showing has the Reds optimistic for a triumphant return to the rotation in 2018, though considering he's coming off a season with sporadic bullpen sessions and 6.2 frames of rehab, fantasy owners should temper expectations. Even if DeSclafani can stay healthy and maintain the excellent control exhibited over his pro career, he still needs to figure out how to keep lefty swingers in the yard, having allowed 23 of his 33 homers surrendered to left-handers. A low strikeout rate further limits his fantasy potential.

DeSclafani's 2016 season was delayed by an oblique injury suffered at the end of spring training, and then by attempting to return too quickly. He still ultimately made 20 starts, improving marginally in most metrics except for his home run rate. Unfortunately, there's one big hurdle preventing DeSclafani from reaching his potential as a No. 2 starter -- his inability to retire left-handers with consistency. Despite using his curveball instead of his changeup to attack lefties, the results have been disappointing, as they hit .300/.337/.500 collectively against him, good for a .353 wOBA. If he ever finds a good out-pitch against lefties, look out -- right-handers hit just .199/.274/.311 against him.

For everything that went wrong for the Reds in 2015, getting DeSclafani for Mat Latos turned out to be a big win for them, and not just because Latos cratered with the Marlins. DeSclafani's last three starts were awful and his ERA topped 4.00 following his final start, but he struck out nearly 20 percent of the batters he faced while walking just seven percent. The best part of his repertoire is his slider, which is one of the best in the game, and his curveball has improved. He still needs to improve against left-handers, who had a .338 wOBA against him. Refining his changeup, which is his worst pitch right now, would go a long way towards providing a remedy.

DeSclafani was given his first taste of major league action in 2014, first as a starter in May and later as a bullpen arm in August/September. All told, he registered a 6.27 ERA and 1.36 WHIP with 26 strikeouts in 33 innings pitched. A converted reliever since his college days, DeSclafani has successfully transitioned into a starting role over the past several seasons, compiling a 3.23 ERA and 1.24 WHIP over 354.1 innings pitched across three levels. In the majors, following his early struggles, DeSclafani appeared to find a comfort zone in the bullpen, reeling off seven scoreless appearances in eight trips to the mound to close the season. Working with a five-pitch arsenal that includes a pair of fastballs, a slider, a curveball and a changeup, DeSclafani has shown solid strikeout ability and good control with a 3.93 K/BB over his professional career. The Reds acquired DeSclafani from Miami as part of the Mat Latos deal in December, and it's likely that the Reds will use him as part of a rebuilt rotation to begin 2015.

Initially drafted as a reliever, DeSclafani has successfully transitioned to a starting role over the past couple of seasons in the minors. In 25 starts split between the Marlins' High-A and Double-A affiliates, he piled up a 9-6 record with a 2.65 ERA and 1.12 WHIP over 129 innings pitched. He's shown solid strikeout ability (8.0 K/9 last season) and has also put together a nice 1.7 BB/9 in the minors. DeSclafani may soon find himself somewhat blocked in what has become a very pitching-rich organization over the past several years, but if he continues to perform on the farm, the organization will find a way to let the 23-year-old contribute.