Most discouraging thing for the Cincinnati Reds: It's the same, old story with starting pitching

Reds interim manager Jim Riggleman discusses Cole Hamels' complete game, Anthony DeSclafani's outing and a 7-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs. Bobby Nightengale, Cincinnati Enquirer

(Photo: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports)No matter what happens over the last month of the season, the Reds will go into 2019 with the same huge "if" hanging over the season that they’ve dealt with the last three seasons:

If the starting pitching is better, they can be competitive.

We know what happened the previous three seasons. The starting pitching did not come around, the Reds finished last and lost 90-plus games.

This year is shaping up exactly the same way. The Reds are second-last in the National League in starter ERA…