Trevor Bauer is the first Reds pitcher to win an ERA title since 1944

Trevor Bauer had one of the best individual seasons in Reds history.

The Cincinnati Reds were once more ace starter away from really making some noise in the NL Central, and they found it last offseason when they acquired Trevor Bauer from the Cleveland Indians. After struggling in 2019, Bauer put together a truly legendary season for David Bell and the Reds.

Bauer became the first player on the Reds since the immortal Ed Heusser in 1944 to lead the NL in ERA. Considering the success this franchise has seen over the last few decades, that is an incredible achievement.

Trevor Bauer was unhittable at times for the Reds

Not only did Bauer lead the NL in ERA, he also has the best ERA+ (275) and WHIP (0.79) in the NL while topping all of baseball in hits allowed per nine innings (5.1). With Sonny Gray and Luis Castillo at the front of this rotation, it’s the pitching that will carry this team deep into October in addition to a lineup that lives and dies by the home run.

Individually, this might be the best season of Bauer’s career. Not only is he an integral member of one of the best teams in the National League, but he is at the front of the NL CY Young race. While he is a free agent at the end of the season and eyeing a spot a team that will contend in the near future, Dick Williams has claimed that he is doing everything in his power to resign him,

There is a direct correlation between Bauer’s dominance on the mound and a Reds team that always had the pieces to make it to October finally getting over the hump. It remains to be seen, however, if Bauer is able to sustain his elite production in the postseason.