Reds Johnny Cueto believes he is MLB’s best pitcher
By Matt Fisher
When one thinks of the best pitchers in baseball today, there are a handful of names that can get thrown into the discussion. Names like Justin Verlander, David Price, Clayton Kershaw, Yu Darvish, …Johnny Cueto?
Given the recent results and stats, it would be hard to argue that the Cincinnati Reds ace isn’t the best in the game currently. In 9 starts, Cueto has a 4-2 record with a Major League best 1.25 ERA, a Major League leading 2 complete game shut-outs, a Major League leading 72 innings pitched, a Major League leading 76 strikeouts and a Major League leading 4.1 hits/nine innings. Is he the best in the game currently? Cueto tells Dayton Daily News’ Hal McCoy that he sure thinks so.
"Asked directly if he thought he is the best pitcher in baseball right now, Cueto spoke through translator Tomas Vera and said, “I would say, yes, definitely yes. My numbers have to talk for me. Every time I go on the mound I do my job. And I do my job to get the best numbers.”"
In all nine of his starts, Cueto has gone at least 7 innings and allowed two runs or less, a feat that, as McCoy says, hasn’t been done in more than 100 years. The last time the Reds’ ace has come close to a Cy Young was 2012, when he finished fourth in the voting. He seems to be an early favorite this season.