Brady Singer Dominates Again: Royals Ace’s Latest Gem Shakes Up the AL Central Race

Brady Singer’s reinvention with the Cincinnati Reds is no longer a small-sample storyline—it’s the backbone of a playoff push. Singer silences his old club In his emotional return to Kauffman Stadium on May 27, the right-hander shoved for seven innings of two-run ball, guiding the Reds past the Kansas City Royals 7-2 and reminding his former fanbase what frontline stuff looks like. The outing pushed his season line to 10-4 with a 3.18 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 121 strikeouts in 125 innings. A trade that changed two franchises Singer, 29, was the centerpiece of November’s blockbuster that sent NL Rookie of the Year Jonathan India to Kansas City. While India has stabilized the Royals’ leadoff spot, Cincinnati’s front office looks clairvoyant: Singer has delivered quality starts in 14 of 19 turns and has out-pitched big-ticket arms acquired elsewhere last winter. Statcast shows real growth • Sinker velocity: 94.1 mph (up 1.3 mph) • Whiff rate: 28.4 % (career best) • Hard-hit % allowed: 33.7 % (down from 42.6 %) A tighter slider shape has generated a .186 opponent average, and the changeup—once an afterthought—is now a 17 % usage pitch, giving lefties something else to track. Latest showcase: Braves baffled On August 1, Singer held Atlanta to one run over six frames, flashing 17 swinging strikes on 97 pitches in a nationally televised duel. Scouts noted late-life on the two-seamer and his ability to double up the slider back-door to lefties. Rotation ripple effect Manager David Bell confirmed the Reds will maintain a six-man rotation through August, positioning Singer to start next Tuesday at Great American Ball Park against the first-place Brewers—a matchup with division-race and Cy Young implications. He lines up for roughly nine more starts, putting 200 strikeouts and 4.0 fWAR within reach. Fantasy baseball takeaway Still available in 18 % of ESPN leagues, Singer should be a priority add in mixed formats needing strikeouts and ratio stability. A favorable home schedule (Brewers, Pirates, Rockies) over the next month sweetens the upside. What’s next Singer celebrates his 29th birthday on August 4 and would love to toast it with an All-Star nod replacement announcement—he currently ranks fifth among NL qualified starters in ERA. If the Reds continue to surge, expect talk of a long-term extension to heat up before the Winter Meetings. Bottom line From trade chip to staff ace, Brady Singer has flipped the NL Central script. Search traffic is surging because his arsenal—and Cincinnati’s postseason hopes—are peaking at exactly the right time.