Johnny Cueto: For Cincinnati Reds Pitchers, the Magic Number Is 26

The Cincinnati Reds have a lot of history. That’s a given considering they’re the oldest professional team in baseball.

But great pitching is one thing the Reds have never had. There have been moments, such as Johnny Vander Meer’s consecutive no-hitters or Tom Browning’s perfect game. But great seasons have been elusive for the Reds, who are the only nonexpansion team that has never won a Cy Young Award.

Johnny Cueto, though, is trying to change that. The Reds ace is scheduled to make his last regular season start Sunday at Pittsburgh, where he could be the first Cincy pitcher in 24 years to win 20 games.

Cueto anchors a starting rotation that has yet to miss a start due to injury this season and is second in team ERA. It’s not necessarily surprising since Cueto did pitch well in 2011—his 2.31 earned run average (ERA) would have been second best had he pitched just six more innings.

This year, Cueto has put together one of the best seasons for a Reds starter in the last 30 years. One thing going in his favor: he’s 26 years old.

When you look back over the last 30 years, there aren’t many great pitching lines for Reds starters. But when there is a great line, it’s likely by a 26-year-old. Here’s a look at five of the best seasons for a Reds starter since 1982.

Mario Soto, 1983

(NL rank in parentheses)

Birthday: July 12, 1956 (was 26 on Opening Day)

W-L: 17-13 (2^nd in wins)

ERA: 2.70 (4^th)

K: 242 (2^nd)

WHIP: 1.104 (2^nd)

Mario Soto pitched his best during one of the worst periods in Reds history. He completed a league-leading 18 games, started the All-Star Game and finished second to Philadelphia’s John Denny in the Cy Young balloting. Not bad for a team that went 74-88 and finished last in the NL West.

Danny Jackson, 1988

Birthday: Jan. 5, 1962 (26 on Opening Day)

W-L: 23-8 (1^st)

ERA: 2.73 (10^th)

K: 161 (T-10^th)

WHIP: 1.063 (6^th)

The Reds acquired Danny Jackson prior to the season for Kurt Stillwell and Ted Power. He repaid them with one of the most dominating seasons for a Reds pitcher. In addition to leading the National League in victories, he also led the Senior Circuit with 15 complete games. He likely would have won the NL Cy Young had it not been for Orel Hershiser ending the season breaking Don Drysdale’s consecutive scoreless innings streak. Instead, Jackson would finish a distant second.

Jackson would never duplicate his 1988 season as he finished with a career record of 112-131. He did, however, win World Series rings with the Royals (1985) and Reds (1990). He also helped take the Phillies to the Fall Classic in 1993.

Jose Rijo, 1991

Birthday: May 13, 1965 (Turned 26 during the season)

W-L: 15-6 (7^th)

ERA: 2.51 (2^nd)

K: 171 (6^th)

WHIP: 1.077 (1^st)

The 1990 World Series MVP, Jose Rijo, carried that success into the following season, when he led the league in winning percentage and WHIP. He would finish fourth in the Cy Young race.

Rijo had an interesting career. He was brought up by the Yankees as a 19-year-old in 1984 as George Steinbrenner sought an equivalent to the Mets' Dwight Gooden. When that didn’t pan out, he was traded to the Athletics as part of the Rickey Henderson deal. Three years later, the Reds traded Dave Parker to acquire him.

Rijo would pitch eight seasons for the Reds before an elbow injury derailed his career in 1995. He had a brief comeback in 2001-02 for the Reds, becoming the first player since Minnie Minoso to return to the majors after receiving votes for the Hall of Fame.

Pete Schourek, 1995

Birthday: May 10, 1969 (Turned 26 during the season)

W-L: 18-7 (2^nd)

ERA: 3.22 (9^th)

K: 160 (7^th)

WHIP: 1.067 (3^rd)

The Reds claimed Pete Schourek off waivers from the Mets in 1994. A year later, the southpaw anchored a staff that led Cincinnati to its first NL Central title and its last playoff series win. He finished second in the NL Cy Young race during the strike-shortened season. Only Greg Maddux, who pitched one of the greatest seasons ever, kept Schourek from winning Cincinnati’s first Cy Young Award.

After 1995, it went quickly downhill for Schourek. He pitched seven more seasons but never won more than eight games or posted an ERA below 4 before retiring in 2001.

Johnny Cueto, 2012

Birthday: Feb. 15, 1986 (26 on Opening Day)

W-L: 19-9 (2^nd as of Sept. 27)

ERA: 2.83 (5th as of Sept. 27)

K: 164 (7^th as of Sept. 27)

WHIP: 1.176 (11^th as of Sept. 27)

Until his early September slip, when he lost three straight outings, Johnny Cueto seemed to be the front-runner for the Cy Young. Now, it appears that R.A. Dickey and Gio Gonzalez may have eclipsed the Reds ace.

That said, Cueto is still a contender for the award, and he does present a viable case. Two things appear in his favor. First, Cueto leads NL pitchers in wins above replacement (WAR), with 5.7. Second, Cueto leads in ballpark-adjusted ERA (ERA+). Considering Gonzalez and Dickey play their home games in relatively pitcher-friendly parts, Cueto should get consideration for pitching at Great American Ball Park.

In 14 starts at home, Cueto was 10-3 with a 2.79 ERA and a 1.068 WHIP. That’s right, he actually pitched better at home than on the road.

If voters take that into consideration, then this might be the year the Reds win their first Cy Young.