The Reds don’t throw big names and huge personalities at you, but Dusty Baker’s club always finds ways to win.
Joey Votto will lead the respectable Reds offense that features many solid options at the plate. Jay Bruce, Brandon Phillips and the newly-acquired Shin-Soo Choo should all put up impressive numbers for an offense that needs improvement from last year after it finished 21st in runs scored.
The strength of the Reds’ roster, however, is their pitching. Aroldis Chapman will headline an impressive pitching staff who will look to match its fourth-best ERA and league-leading saves numbers from a year ago.
Chapman is making the move to the starting rotation after lighting up opposing batters as the closer last year, and this move will define the Reds’ season.
The explosive right-hander will overcome doubts about his power arm not being able to handle the grueling workload of a starting pitcher in the Majors, and he will anchor another fantastic pitching staff in Cincinnati.
The Reds will find formidable opposition from the Cardinals in St. Louis, as Mike Matheny will have his team ready to return to the NLCS, where they lost to the eventual champion Giants last season.
With the Cards the only real threat to the division crown, though—as Pittsburgh still struggles to maintain success through 162 games and Chicago and Milwaukee still far from contending—the Reds will ride their pitching through to the postseason.
Projected Standings
1. Cincinnati Reds
2. St. Louis Cardinals
3. Pittsburgh Pirates
4. Milwaukee Brewers
5. Chicago Cubs
Daily MLB Predictions
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