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Luis Castillo 2019 Outlook: Third-Year Flamethrower Could Thrive With Improved Supporting Cast
6 years agoCincinnati Reds right-hander Luis Castillo followed up an impressive 2017 rookie campaign with a solid 2018 season which saw him make 31 starts and pitch 169 2/3 innings, a career-high at any level. Castillo wound up posting a 10-12 record, 4.30 ERA, 165 strikeouts, and 49 walks on the year. The 26-year-old has exceptional stuff, including a 98 MPH fastball and showed improved control last season, cutting his walk rate down from 8.9% to 6.9%. While his hitter-friendly home ballpark and propensity to allow an above-average rate of hard-hit balls may make it tough for Castillo to post a sub-4.00 ERA going forward, his excellent strikeout upside and an improved Reds team around him bodes well for his 2019 outlook. Fantasy owners should be happy to take Castillo as a solid middle of the rotation arm in the middle rounds during drafts.
