Santillan earned the save in Thursday's win over the Guardians. He struck out one batter in 1.2 perfect innings.

EDGE Analysis

When Alexis Diaz made a mess of things in the eighth inning, Santillan was there to clean up. He got a double play to end the eighth and then retired the side in order in the ninth to secure his second save of the season, and first since Opening Day. Diaz has the best numbers in the Cincinnati bullpen, but Diaz is inexperienced, and manager David Bell likes to mix and match anyway. Santillan, Art Warren and others will likely remain in the mix for the occasional save as the chances get spread around.

Santillan really struggled in Thursday's loss to the Padres, retiring two batters while hitting two batters, walking another and then giving up a bases-loaded double, with a lack of common of his slider being the culprit, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. "Right from pitch one, it looked like he was maybe overthrowing his slider a little bit, pulling it," Reds manager David Bell said.

EDGE Analysis

Since nailing down the save on Opening Day, Santillan has declined, picking up one hold over the weekend, but seeing his ERA skyrocket to 8.10 with a WHIP of 1.50. With Lucas Sims back, Santillan has been pushed down in the closer pecking order, such that it exists with the Reds.

Santillan earned a save against Atlanta on Thursday, pitching a perfect ninth inning during which he struck out two batters.

EDGE Analysis

The Reds' closer situation was murky enough heading into the regular season, and it becomes even more complicated with Santillan -- who wasn't generally considered among the prime candidates for ninth-inning duties -- picking up the team's first save. Manager David Bell indicated in late March that the right-hander was even being considered for a spot in the starting rotation, so the organization obviously values his versatility. It seems unlikely that Santillan would be handed full-time closer duties after one successful outing, though he handled the role with aplomb Thursday, throwing 11 of 15 pitches for strikes and retiring the side in order. There will no doubt be plenty of Thursday night FAAB bids placed on the hurler based on his Opening Day performance, but managers would be wise to reign in expectations for what remains an unsettled bullpen situation in Cincinnati.

Santillan is expected to fill a high-leverage middle-innings role this season, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Reds intend to use Santillan the same way they used Tejay Antone last season before the latter underwent Tommy John surgery. Santillan could pick up the occasional save that way-Antone saved three games in 23 appearances-but his main path to fantasy relevance may come from the fact that he'll likely throw more than an inning at a time. Santillan has a history as a starting pitcher but didn't show the command necessary to fill that role last season, walking 11.1 percent of opposing batters, so the role should fit him well.

Santillan told Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer on Tuesday that he'll serve as a reliever for the Reds to begin the season. "I'll go in and attack every hitter I face," Santillan said.

EDGE Analysis

Santillan has mostly served as a full-time starter since joining the Reds organization as a second-round pick in 2015, with this past season marking the first time he dabbled between starting and relief duty. The 24-year-old still made four starts across his 26 appearances with the big club in 2021, and though he was expected to compete for a rotation role in spring training, the Reds have since tabled those plans. Even with Luis Castillo (shoulder) and Mike Minor (shoulder) set to begin the season on the injured list, the Reds may be content to let prospects Nick Lodolo and Hunter Greene fill out the final two openings in the rotation behind Tyler Mahle, Vladimir Gutierrez and Reiver Sanmartin. Meanwhile, manager David Bell informed Santillan that he'll be heading to the bullpen, where he's expected to serve as one of the Reds' high-leverage relievers, according to Goldsmith. Santillan could be a factor in the Reds' closing picture, which has become more murkier this spring with Lucas Sims (elbow) on track to join Castillo and Minor on the IL to begin the season.

Santillan is under consideration for one of the three open spots in the Reds' rotation, though he hasn't worked more than two innings in spring training so far, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

Santillan came up through the minors as a starter, though he had better results in the bullpen in the majors last season. "We'd love to have him in the bullpen because he dominated at the end of last season," Bell said. "To have that in the bullpen, his aggressive mentality, I would not be afraid of him in any situation (in the bullpen). But he's also a really good starter. With where we are, it's early to make that decision."

Santillan (ankle) is scheduled to start Sunday's spring training game against the Giants, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

Santillan underwent ankle surgery during the offseason, but he's been throwing bullpen sessions to open spring training and will make an early start for the Reds. It appears the 24-year-old will be ready for the start of the season despite the procedure. He made his big-league debut for Cincinnati in 2021 and had a 2.91 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 56:21 K:BB over 43.1 innings with four starts in 26 appearances.

Santillan underwent ankle surgery during the offseason but has been throwing bullpens to begin spring training, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

Santillan made his major-league debut in 2021 and recorded a 2.91 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 43.1 innings across 26 appearances (four starts). General manager Nick Krall classified Santillan's surgery as a right ankle debridement that he underwent on Oct. 29, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. It's not yet clear whether the right-hander's offseason procedure will force him to miss time early in the regular season, but the fact that he's already throwing bullpens signals that any potential absence is unlikely to be a significant one.

Santillan (1-3) allowed one run on one hit with two strikeouts in an inning of work, taking the loss in Saturday's 8-6 defeat to the Pirates. He also hit a batter.

EDGE Analysis

Santillan got the first two outs of his inning but beaned Yoshi Tsutsugo before coughing up an RBI triple to Bryan Reynolds that would be the difference in the game. The rookie has had a bit of a topsy-turvy season, as he began life with the Reds as a starter before occupying a few different roles in the bullpen. He'll be an interesting watch in camp next year as Cincinnati tries to figure out where best to deploy the right-hander.

Santillan allowed a solo homer in Saturday's win over the Nationals. The Reds haven't decided what his role will be in 2022 after they moved him to the bullpen this summer, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

Santillan has been on a roll, allowing two runs over the last two months, a span of 21.1 innings. Walks have remained an issue still, as he's walked 10 over that span and 20 over 41 major-league innings this season.