The Reds are out to an early lead in the NL Central. Their 19-10 record is tied with San Diego's for third-best in the Senior Circuit, narrowly behind the Braves and Dodgers. They're on track for their best record in a month since June 2023.
It doesn't necessarily come as a surprise that the Reds have been competitive. They were a playoff team a year ago, and the division is one of the more wide open in MLB. Yet the way they've gotten to this start is more perplexing. Their two best starters haven't thrown a pitch. The back of their rotation has been knocked around. Their bullpen is walking more hitters than any other in MLB. They've had arguably the NL's least productive catching tandem and outfield.
How have they overcome all of that? The lineup has been carried by two players: one established star and a rookie who already looks like an impact slugger. Let's dig in beyond the scorching starts from Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart to gauge what the front office might prioritize when they start sketching out deadline plans 6-8 weeks from now.
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They finally wrote one I wanna read dammit
It’s only a few bucks. Do it. It’s worth it.
I second this
They claim there is a plan. Laughable.
They might be having a good start but I have a feeling it’s not going to last.
Sad to say, most likely. A lot of pressure to put on a young pitching staff to hold the other team to a couple of runs a night, every night.
You’re thinking too small when it comes to an outfielder. The Reds need one more dynamic player, not a retread or castoff. Think Wilyer Abreu, not Jarren Duran. Think CJ Abrams, not Jacob Young. The players I’m thinking about would cost a premium, but if there’s a year to take some risks, this is it for the Reds.
CJ Abrams is too poor a fit for the Reds’ needs to make up for any marginal gain you might get by moving players around to make it work.
The idea isn’t wrong though, they need another game changer.
That game changer needs to be an outfielder for a couple of years now.
Ah, now it’s a profit deal.
Not sure why there’s such skepticism about the Reds maintaining this level of success. McLain, Suarez, and Friedl haven’t started hitting yet. You can’t expect them to continue with their slow starts. And then if Steer and Stephenson can pick it up, too, then The Reds offense should be climbing up the team stats rankings.
And then Lodolo is due back in the rotation soon, followed by Huntet Greene in a couple months.
What’s there not to like?
At this point in time, replacing Abbott and Williamson is huge. Two guys with ~ 6.35 with two guys a little under 4.00? Doesn’t get much better.
Can’t expect them to continue their slow start? No you can’t. The starts over. Now we’re moving quickly into their slow middle and slow end.
When did McLain get hot consistently last year? I can see his slow “start”…continuing. He looked confident in spring games. Looks like a deer in headlights now.
Until they get more aggressive, and swing at the pitches “right down Broadway”, instead of waiting to swing at the pitches a foot outside, all 3 (plus others) will continue their slow start.
Some teams win with chewing gum and duct tape. I’ll enjoy the ride until it’s over.
Confusing? Not so much. Just the nature of small-market MLB teams today. Can be very good, will be very bad and always inconsistant Of course the Reds best 2 SP are injured, but that is just opportunity for Lowder and Burns to show what they can do. Suarez has not caught fire, but he and Stewart are getting EDLC better pitches to hit. Reds bullpen is talented and mostly effective, but “lockdown” bullpens are very scarce in this age where the relief corp has to finish the last 3-4 innings of almost every game. Confusing would be if the Reds had a 19-11 record every month.
You can absolutely tell this dude didn’t read the article
The Reds MVP so far this season is their manager.
Why pay for this amateur slop MLBTR churns out when the Reds SB Nation affiliate does a better job and doesn’t charge you? MLBTR: stay in your lane and analyze the transactions. Stop with this nonsense, trying to be Fangraphs.