Analyzing Cincinnati Reds' Options for the Starting Rotation

The Reds are going into spring training with tons of pitching talent.

Author:
Jeff Carr
Publish date:
Jan 4, 2024 12:10 PM EST

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The Cincinnati Reds have added depth to their pitching staff, which means some of the pitchers we saw last season might not make the Opening Day roster. A prominent member of last year’s rotation and a new addition could find themselves out of the top-five.

This is an exercise that will evolve as we get into Spring Training, but looking at the rotation right now, these are the five pitchers that could be in the rotation to start the season:

Hunter Greene

He's the first player of the young core to get a contract extension and the pitcher that has the highest upside on the team. He's a stone cold lock to make the rotation.

Frankie Montas

He says he’s healthy, which means he’s in the rotation. The last time he was healthy, in 2021, he was a Cy Young candidate. It's reasonable to expect him to get back to that form this season.

Andrew Abbott

He was arguably the best pitcher on the team in 2023. Abbott could continue to impress this season and is all but another lock.

Graham Ashcraft

He led the team in starts abd innings last season. If he can stay healthy, he could easily make 30 starts and pitch 180 innings this season.

Nick Martinez

As of right now he’s penciled in here due to his contract. There is one thing that can change this, though…

If Nick Lodolo is 100% healthy, he will be in the rotation. As of right now, that remains to be seen. He says he will be a full go once pitchers and catchers report, so we’ll see. But when he was healthy in 2021, he was the Reds best pitcher.

So it’s a battle of the Nicks for the final spot.

Other Candidates

There was a name that wasn’t mentioned, though: Brandon Williamson.

He made 23 starts and showed amazing development as the season moved along. The one reason I don’t see him being a top-five option is the fact the Reds never really let him pitch more than two times through an opposing lineup. He may be able to build up to that this year, but that’s the lack of longevity that the Reds starters need to avoid this season.

Williamson should begin the year in Triple-A Louisville and continue to hone in his consistency. More than that, he isn’t currently one of the five best pitchers in the organization. Given the ebbs and flows of the season, he will see plenty of innings at the major league level. I just don’t see him breaking camp with the starting rotation if everyone is healthy.

The Reds used 17 different starting pitchers last season. Some were openers, but others were actual starting pitchers trying for a MLB job. Things have changed. The Reds have a deep pool of talent to draw from for starting pitching this year. Names not mentioned as Opening Day rotation options including Connor Phillips, Lyon Richardson, Carson Spiers and even prospects like Rhett Lowder and Chase Petty. They all could start games this year for the Reds.

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