Tejay Antone, by every statistical metric, is having a dominant start to the season out of the Cincinnati Reds’ bullpen.
Antone has permitted four hits, one run and four walks in 10 2/3 innings (0.84 ERA). He’s struck out 17 of the 40 batters he’s faced. The Reds save him for high-leverage situations, relying on him to protect leads. He’s faltered just once, surrendering a game-tying homer to Andrew Young on Tuesday.
But there is one strange part about Antone’s success. He’s had trouble with the first batter. In his six relief appearances, the leadoff batter against Antone has reached base five times (four walks, one single).