Cincinnati Reds: Predicting where the team will finish in the NL Central

“Joey Votto said it best, they have a chance to win the division…” – Abby Caldwell

Wow, this is a tough one. Realistically, I think Joey Votto said it best, they have a chance to win the division if a few things come out in their favor. I think it’s fair to say the Reds are no longer the doormats of the National League Central.

I think the Reds will beat out the Pirates and probably the Cardinals too. The Cubs are a bit of a wild card as the Reds did fairly well against the North Siders last season and the Cubbies did not have a very active offseason.

The Brewers, however, will be tough to outlast this season. Milwaukee has the reigning NL MVP Christian Yelich who beat up on the Reds pretty good last year and the Crew held onto most of their big assets, save for new Reds’ pitching coach Derek Johnson of course.

Prediction: 85-77 (3rd place finish in the NL Central, possible playoff berth)

“The Reds will be a surprise competitor.” – Brad Griffith

Coming off one of the most exciting offseasons of late, the Reds have supported a Top 10 offense from last season with key additions to the pitching staff and outfield. If the pitching staff can hold tight and shore up the biggest hole in the ship, the Reds will be a surprise competitor sailing through the NL Central.

Injuries have already started to plague the rotation with Alex Wood sidelined to start the season, so the key will be staying healthy and having quality starts down the stretch. With the expected rise of young talent Nick Senzel, the return of key players from injury, and an even better bench, this group is set to compete for October.

Prediction: 83-79 (3rd place finish in the NL Central, possible playoff berth)

“I’m guessing the Reds fall just short of the postseason.” – Scott Boyken

The Reds will be firmly in contention for not only a Wild Card spot, but the division title as well. Will 87 wins be enough to take the National League Central division? The NL Central is the deepest division in baseball and it may only take 90 victories to claim the crown with all five teams beating up on one another.

With the NL Central being so competitive, the door will be left open for teams in other divisions to take the Wild Card spots. The NL East and NL West present an easier path to the postseason this year and the Reds may be on the outside looking in.

Prediction: 87-75 (3rd place finish in the NL Central, no playoff berth)

“David Bell provides an upgrade.” – Mike Neal

The Cincinnati Reds will be an improved ball club in 2019. The biggest question since all the winter acquisitions has been, just how much can this team improve? On the positive side of the ledger, the lineup looks to have a good combination of on-base percentage, power, and run-producing bats. The starting pitching also shows promise, with the ability to go deeper into games.

David Bell provides an upgrade to the manager’s spot with his use of technology, aggressive nature, and a good overall “feel” for the game of baseball. I’ll give the Reds plus-5 in the win column for offensive improvements, plus-5 for Bell and his staff, and plus-10 in the win column for the improved starting rotation.

Prediction: 87-75 (3rd place finish in the NL Central, possible playoff berth)