The Cincinnati Reds feature one of the league's best rotations.
As the 2026 MLB season approaches, the Cincinnati Reds enter the year with one of the more intriguing starting rotations in MLB. Once considered a rebuilding unit, the group has developed into a legitimate strength, built around power arms, improving command and high-end upside.
While the Reds may not yet belong in the very top tier of rotations, their talent and trajectory place them firmly among the league’s better staffs.
Cincinnati’s rotation is anchored by a true three-headed monster. Right-handed ace Hunter Greene remains the centerpiece, bringing elite velocity and strikeout ability every time he takes the mound.
Greene made 19 starts in 2025, finishing with a 2.76 ERA across 107 2/3 innings while striking out 132 batters. When healthy, he has shown the ability to dominate lineups and set the tone for the entire pitching staff.
Left-hander Andrew Abbott has emerged as a steady and reliable complement. The 26-year-old posted a 2.87 ERA over 166 1/3 innings last season. Abbott’s ability to limit damage and work efficiently has solidified his role near the top of the rotation.
Southpaw Nick Lodolo rounds out the trio, providing another left-handed weapon with swing-and-miss stuff. Lodolo logged a 3.33 ERA in 156 2/3 innings, striking out 156 hitters and flashing the upside that once made him one of the organization’s top pitching prospects.
Based on the strength of that core, I slotted the Reds as the ninth-best starting rotation in MLB entering the season. The only rotations I placed ahead of Cincinnati belong to the Dodgers, Blue Jays, Red Sox, Tigers, Seattle Mariners, Yankees, Phillies and Braves. Those clubs feature either deeper veteran track records or multiple established aces, but Cincinnati is not far behind.
What separates the Reds from many teams in the middle of the rankings is upside. Greene, Abbott and Lodolo are all still in or near their prime, and each has already proven capable of handling significant workloads at the big-league level. Their contrasting styles also make the rotation difficult to prepare for over a full series.
The group becomes even more compelling with the addition of right-hander Chase Burns. The former second overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft brings elite velocity and advanced pitch movement, and while he has yet to log meaningful innings, his ceiling is among the highest in the organization. His presence raises the overall outlook of the staff and provides another potential impact arm.
Health remains the biggest variable. If Cincinnati’s starters stay on the mound, this rotation has the tools to outperform its ranking. For now, ninth feels like a fair placement, with a realistic path to climbing higher as the season unfolds.