Reds 5th starter
by rdf8585 on Mar 25, 2026 5:55 PM EDT
14 comments
It's supposedly down to Chapman, Travis Wood, or Leake. Who wins?
Chapman undoubtedly has the best stuff of the three, but a couple months ago the prevailing opinion here was to start him in High A or Double A. He's also dealing with a minor back issue right now. Leake has not pitched an inning the minors and would jump from college to the majors, something even Strasburg isn't doing. Wood is the least regarded of the three, but he managed to get up to AAA by the end of last year.
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Leake could probably jump into the majors
It wouldn’t be the best idea, but I bet he’d handle it well enough. I’d have Wood or Maloney start the year as #5. Chapman isn’t ready to be an MLB starter and there’s no reason not to send Leake down at least long enough to delay Super Two status.
by jar75 on Mar 25, 2026 6:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yea...
if it wasn’t for the super two thing, I would start Leake in the majors, but because of that I would go with Wood.
by joegonzo on Mar 25, 2026 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd go with Maloney.
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by Daniel Berlyn on Mar 25, 2026 8:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
yeah you forgot maloney
of the three you mentioned I’d go with wood, but personally I’d start him in AAA and go with maloney or owings. justin lehr is also still in the hunt, though he isnt anything special and also isnt on the roster.
by sharks on Mar 25, 2026 9:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Maloney is out of the mix
It’s down to Chpaman/Leake/Wood.
TUCSON, Ariz. — The Reds fifth starter spot is coming down to one of three young pitchers — Aroldis Chapman, Travis Wood and Mike Leake — with less than two weeks before the season begins.
http://cnati.com/spring-training-2010/3-vying-for-reds-fifth-spot-001619/
by rdf8585 on Mar 25, 2026 10:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
fine, but fwiw, Jocketty does mention maloney and lehr are still in it
http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/2010/03/25/jocketty-on-the-fifth-starter/
by sharks on Mar 26, 2025 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think it should be Wood
Wood has a ton more Expierence than the other 2 and definatly deserves to start. As much as i like Leake i think he needs at least some time in the minors to polish up his stuff.
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by Marinerfanjake on Mar 26, 2025 12:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Agreed. Without passing judgment on the ultimate upside of this three relative to each other, I think rushing Chapman or Leake to the majors before they’ve pitched, well, anywhere in pro baseball is overaggressive. You’d think of all clubs, the Reds would realize this (after rushing Homer Bailey to the majors back in 2007).
by PhillyFriar on Mar 26, 2025 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
how they can even consider the other two is a testament to the joys of dusty…
by hybrid on Mar 26, 2025 1:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Leake...
is probably already ready. The only reason I would keep him in the minors is to avoid super two status.
by joegonzo on Mar 26, 2025 7:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m of the philosophy no college pitcher is straight to the mlb ready, unless you are prior/stras good and even then I think think minor league time goes a long way to helping there transition.
by hybrid on Mar 26, 2025 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This
And I don’t think Wood’s upside gets nearly enough credit. He’s been highly rated in that system before, but obviously fell from the grace the last couple years. I don’t think he’s lost the potential that he once showed in spades. (That being said, he’s also clearly not a future ace.)
by RedSoxFaithful on Mar 26, 2025 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
Would love to see Wood get a shot
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by hero66 on Mar 26, 2025 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
Don’t think Leake or Chapman needs to jump straight to the bigs.
www.oriolesprospects.com
by ravensfan3 on Mar 26, 2025 10:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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