Reds need veteran Brady Singer to find his form
The Cincinnati Reds entered the season believing their starting rotation could be one of the best in baseball, led by Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, and Andrew Abbott. But injuries and inconsistency have changed that picture quickly. Greene has yet to pitch this season as he recovers from offseason elbow surgery, Lodolo missed part of the year and has struggled since returning, and Abbott started poorly before recently settling in. Chase Burns has been solid, but he has been the only Reds starter performing above average so far.
That is why Brady Singer has become such an important piece for Cincinnati. Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller recently pointed out that the Reds need the veteran right-hander to rebound. Last season, Singer was a key reason the team reached the postseason, finishing with 169.2 innings and 15 quality starts. He earned a $12.75 million salary in his final year of arbitration, making him one of the team’s highest-paid players.
This season, though, Singer has not come close to that level. In nine starts and 42 innings, he has given up 59 hits, 11 home runs, and 27 runs. His sinker velocity is down, he is not missing enough bats, and hitters have been punishing him when he stays in the strike zone. With several other starters sidelined or underperforming, the Reds badly need Singer to steady the rotation and deliver like he did a year ago.
