Cincinnati Reds Starting Rotation Among MLB's Best in 2025

The unit is headlined by Hunter Greene, who not only is on the verge of becoming a superstar but is an early Cy Young candidate. In five starts, Greene has a 2.35 earned run average with 1.2 wins above replacement, with 35 strikeouts in 30.2 innings. Already with three starts over seven innings, Greene has become a surefire ace for Cincinnati.

Meanwhile, southpaw Nick Lodolo is off to the best start of his career with a 2.79 ERA in five starts. No longer trying to strike out every batter, Lodolo has taken advantage of the defense behind him through 29 strong innings of work. 28-year-old Brady Singer is the oldest of the three, and has provided the Reds with quality starts and is striking batters out at a career-high 10.1 per nine innings. 

Nick Martinez slots in as the fourth starter, giving the Reds an inning-eater. He may not go well into the third time through the batting order, but he holds his own. To date, in five starts, he had not allowed more than four runs, giving the Reds a fighting chance during his outings. 

Andrew Abbott has also given the Reds two strong starts this season, including an 11-strikeout game in his last performance. Before Carson Spiers was hurt, he provided three decent starts as well. Not to mention reliever Brent Suter, who came through with a three-inning shutout as an opener a couple of days ago. 

Cincinnati may not have the flashy stars that other contenders in the National League may have. Yet, with the way they are performing, the Reds starting rotation is more than capable of supporting a playoff run in 2025. And that is before considering the promising young hurlers in the minors who could debut as soon as this summer.