A playoff-caliber Reds rotation sets the tone

Looking at how the Cincinnati Reds have built this team, a lot of the biggest moves have been geared toward creating a strong rotation.

Nick Lodolo, Chase Burns, Hunter Greene and Rhett Lowder were first-round picks, and Andrew Abbott was a second-round pick. The Reds traded a former first-round pick in Jonathan India for Brady Singer. Nick Martinez is the highest-paid player on the team.

Even with Greene and Lowder on the IL, the rotation is still the strength of the team.

“When you pitch,” Terry Francona said, “You always have a chance.”

The Reds’ sweep this weekend over the Rays was some of Cincinnati’s best baseball of the season, and the rotation led the way. Martinez’s competitiveness and adaptability were on display on Friday, Abbott lived up to his All-Star billing on Saturday and then Singer allowed one run in 7 ⅓ innings on Sunday.

“It’s amazing to to have that confidence before the game even starts that we have the best staff in the game,” TJ Friedl said. “You really can’t put enough words on how much that means to a team as a whole. Those are the horses who get you through the season. To have the confidence that your staff is the best in the game is incredible.”

On Sunday, the Reds scratched both of their runs together in the first inning. The key plays were a heads up move by Friedl to take an extra base as well as a double steal. The Reds aren’t a good slugging team, but the offense does have the ability to put pressure on the other team.

“Our guys are doing a very good job,” Francona said. “You get to a point of the season where maybe some guys on some teams are getting tired. Our guys seem to understand this is how we have to play to win.”

There’s all of the upside in the world in Elly De La Cruz, and there’s also plenty of upside in guys like Matt McLain, Austin Hays and Noelvi Marte.

But if the Reds end up making it to the playoffs, their path forward is great starting pitching.

That’s also the case in the regular season. The Reds started off July with a subpar stretch of series against the Red Sox, Phillies, Marlins and Rockies. The Reds didn’t play especially bad baseball during that stretch. Aside from two games, the rotation was more than fine. But because of how the Reds are built, they need more than just that from the rotation.

The Reds need Abbott bewildering hitters, Lodolo’s breaking ball firing on all cylinders, Martinez in a rhythm, Singer on the attack and Burns under control. Each of the Reds’ starting pitchers has proven to be capable of picking up the entire team and leading the Reds to a win, and the fate of this Reds’ season is in the starters’ hands.

In 2021, 2023 and 2024, the Reds’ season essentially ended when the rotation fell apart. The goal all season for these starters has been sprinting through the finish line instead of fading down the stretch. That’s been more true for Abbott, who has historically struggled in August and September, than anyone else.

“I really set out last year into the offseason coming into this year to stretch out,” Abbott said. “When you get to around August and September, that’s when I’ve faded in years past. I’m hammering down with the strength staff and the training staff to getting a routine laid out. To this point, it’s been great. It’s been my strongest asset.”

Singer’s start on Sunday was a big rebound. He entered the game with a 4.84 ERA and was coming off a performance where he allowed seven runs in 2 ⅓ innings.

Before Singer took the mound on Sunday, Derek Johnson was asked what the next step for Singer was to get back on track.

‘He has to allow himself to do what he does,” Johnson said. “He gets in his own way sometimes. It’s because he’s a pro. It’s because he puts in the work to be good. It also sometimes hurts him. He gets in his own way, and it’ll perpetuate more. For me, it’s him allowing himself to show what he’s capable of.”

Singer did that against the Rays by relentlessly getting ahead in the count and spotting his sinker for 14 called strikes. He also struck out eight batters and showcased the slider that he has been known for since Singer was a first-round pick and a top prospect in the Royals’ system.

When you have great pitching, you’ll always have a chance.

The Dodgers now come to town and will be starting three pitchers who have been All-Stars in Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and Shohei Ohtani. The clearest path to a Reds’ series victory is standout starts from Burns, Lodolo and Martinez.

The Reds are playing good baseball, and it’s no coincidence that this stretch has coincided with some great nights by the starting staff.