Tony Cingrani Raising Some Eyebrows

After Johnny Cueto was placed on the 15-day DL, things seemed very bad. The Reds brought up LHP Tony Cingrani to take Cueto’s place on the roster. Cingrani is on top of the world right now.

His first two starts for the Reds have been great, on April 18 Tony made his Major League Debut, he went seven innings of two run, five hit baseball, and recorded nine strikeouts. His next start, he pitched five innings, gave up only one run on five hits and fanned eight. But today was his best game yet, he pitched six innings of scoreless baseball and recorded 11 strikeouts.

Over the last three weeks, Cingrani has been the best starter for the Reds, hands down. Once Cueto is taken off the DL, it would be hard to send your hottest pitcher down to AAA. Mike Leake would likely be the odd-man-out and would be sent down.

If today’s game was a home game, every fan in attendance would have won free pizza from LaRosa’s. If the Reds pitching staff records 11 strikeouts or more, everyone wins free pizza. The first two times Cingrani started, people won pizza. Tony Cingrani is obviously an Italian name, so perhaps, he is trying to show his love of pizza by getting as many strikeouts as possible, or maybe he’s just talented. Either way, fans love him.