5 bold Reds predictions as October expectations explode in Cincinnati

Terry Francona told his team, "It's time." The Cincinnati Reds skipper has been effusive in the praise for his up-and-coming group, and the team has their eyes fixed on a return to the playoffs in 2026.

The baseball season is a grind, and a lot of crazy things can happen. It's doubtful that many Reds fans predicted that Alexis Diaz would be traded last season. Most fans would've taken the over if you projected Elly De La Cruz to hit just 22 home runs in 2025, right? Did you honestly expect Noelvi Marte to get more starts in the outfield than third base? Or even start a single game after failing so badly in 2024?

Prediciting the results of a baseball season can be next to impossible, but let's look at five bold predictions for the Reds' 2026 season.

Matt McLain earns his first trip to the All-Star Game

When you think of All-Stars on this year's Reds team, names like Hunter Greene and Elly De La Cruz come to mind. Andrew Abbott went to his first All-Star Game in 2025, and Eugenio Suárez has been to the Midsummer Classic twice. Look for Matt McLain's All-Star drought to end this season.

McLain put up All-Star type numbers during his rookie season in 2023, but missed the 2024 season following shoulder surgery. He struggled mightily in 2025, but he's now fully recovered from the surgery and has looked tremendous this spring. McLain is revving up for an All-Star season in 2026.

Tony Santillan records more saves than Emilio Pagán

Emilio Pagán signed a two-year, $20 million deal to return to Cincinnati and has been anointed as the Reds closer heading into the upcoming season. While Pagán has earned the right lock down the ninth inning, don't expect him to maintain that role throughout the entire season.

Pagán pitched well in 2025, but he's still a fly ball pitcher. That's bad trait to have when half your games are played at Great American Ball Park. Tony Santillan emerged as Francona's go-to arm when he needed an out, and the right-hander could evolve into the team's full-time closer by the middle of summer. It'll be a close competition, but look for Santillan to edge out Pagán for the saves lead once the season comes to a close.

Spencer Steer leads the Reds in home runs in 2026

The Reds were hunting for power bat throughout the offseason, and it finally arrived when the team inked Eugenio Suárez to a one-year, $15 million deal. Cincinnati is also hoping the likes of McLain and De La Cruz can provide some pop as well.

But the hitter-friendly confines of GABP can turn even a player with average power into a home run threat. Spencer Steer trailed De La Cruz by just one home run in the chase for the team lead last season, and that was after being limited due to a shoulder injury at the beginning of the year. Steer has hit 20 or more home runs in three straight seasons, look him for nearly double that total in 2026.

Nick Lodolo finishes among the top-3 in the NL Cy Young voting

Some baseball fans are already set to crown Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes as the NL Cy Young Award winner. While the Buccos' starter should be the unquestioned favorite to take home the trophy, a lot can happen in a 162-game season. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Christopher Sanchez, Chris Sale, even Shohei Ohtani will all be angling to take home Cy Young honors this season.

Among the Reds' group of starters, Hunter Greene (though he could open the year on the IL) arguably has the best chance to win this year's Cy Young Award. But far too many fans forget how talented Nick Lodolo truly is. If he can stay healthy — which has always been a problem — the lefty has an impressive repertoire and will be among the top vote-getters for this year's NL Cy Young Award.

Reds outlast the Pirates, not the Cubs, to win the NL Central division

Most experts and pundits are predicting the Chicago Cubs and the Milwaukee Brewers to be battling for supremacy in the NL Central in 2026, while the Reds and Pirates jockey for third place. But things might not be so rosy on the North Side or in the Cream City, and the fight for the NL Central will come down to the Redlegs and the Buccos.

Pittsburgh invested some money in free agency to bolster their lineup this offseason, and with Skenes atop a rotation that also features Mitch Keller, Braxton Ashcraft, and Bubba Chandler, the Pirates pose a threat to every team in the division. But the Reds have a better rotation, bullpen, and lineup heading into the season, and will outlast the Pirates for the division crown in 2026.