»MCCOY: Should recent resurgence change Reds approach at trade deadline?
Mahle, 23, finished the month 3-0 with a 2.18 earned-run average over six starts. The Reds won five of those six outings, a primary reason behind their surge toward respectability after getting off to the forgettably horrendous start. After wrapping up their home stand and interleague series against the Chicago White Sox with a 7-4 win on Wednesday, they were 16-6 in their 22 games since falling a season-high 21 games under .500 and 17 ½ games out of first place on June 9.
They finished the calendar month of June with a National League Central Division-best 15-11 record.
Mahle, whose start against the Cubs will be his first in the so-called Friendly Confines, wrapped up his personal month with a mixed-bag outing in Cincinnati’s 12-3 romp over division-leading Milwaukee on June 30, which featured pitcher Michael Lorenzen’s pinch-hit grand slam.
»RELATED: Reds trade reliever to Dodgers for two minor leaguers
While lasting only 5 2/3 innings and matching his career high by facing 27 batters, Mahle also set a career high with 12 strikeouts, the most by a Reds rookie since left-hander Amir Garrett struck out 12 in April 2017 and three shy of tying the franchise single-game record for strikeouts by a rookie, set by Gary Nolan against San Francisco in 1967.
“When you’re getting swings and misses, especially on my slider, I was really happy to see that,” the 6-foot-3, 210-pound Mahle said after that game. “My fastball command was really good through the first five (innings). I was ecstatic about the way that went.”
Interim manager Jim Riggleman was equally as giddy.
»RELATED: Recalled by Reds, Cody Reed eager to stick in majors this time
“I think that’s the best performance I’ve seen from anybody this year,” he said. “If you think about it, it’s not a quality start (six or more innings, three or fewer earned runs). That’s a little ridiculous. That was impressive. He was just really good. He threw everywhere from 89-96 (miles per hour) and added and subtracted with his fastball. His breaking ball got better as the game went on. Just a fine, composed young pitcher.”
Mahle, 6-6 with a 3.83 ERA overall, sailed into July leading NL rookies in wins as well as with 17 starts, 91 2/3 innings and 93 strikeouts. He also allowed a total of just three home runs in his six June starts after being reached for seven in six April outings and four in five May appearances.
Catcher Tucker Barnhart couldn’t pinpoint any one factor in Mahle’s improved performance from the beginning of the season, when he posted ERAs of 4.32 in April and 5.33 in May, to the end of June. Barnhart considers it to be the natural development of a talented young pitcher whose 43-28 minor league record includes a no-hitter and a perfect game.
Mahle also got the decision in Cincinnati’s first win over the season after being swept in three games by Washington. He allowed one hit and two walks and struck out seven in six innings of a 1-0 win over the Cubs in Cincinnati on April 2
“He’s the whole package, and he’s just getting better,” Barnhart said Wednesday. “He’s got three pitches, but what it really comes down to is fastball command. He can throw his fastball to all four quadrants.
“There’s nothing different,” he added. “It’s a combination of all things. He’s going to continue to develop. He’s a young guy trying to find himself at the major league level. It’s a matter of him getting the confidence to perform at the major league level.”
FRIDAY’S GAME
Reds at Cubs, 2:20 p.m., FS Ohio, 700, 1410
About the Author