Tyler Mahle shuts down Cubs again, Reds win series opener 3-2

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Remember that time the Cincinnati Reds embarked on a lengthy rebuild, traded away all their established starting pitchers, and rolled out an entire brigade of rookie starter that allowed more earned runs than there are grains of sand in the Sahara?

Yeah. That was the opposite of enjoyable, and it lasted for some three full years.

Well, out of those ashes has risen a pretty dang talented group of starters for the Reds these days, and none has been more consistent and effective than Tyler Mahle. On Friday against the Chicago Cubs, Mahle was at work doing his thing once again, firing 6.2 innings of 1 ER ball against the Baby Bears, never once…