By Lowen Holthaus, Guest Writer

Can Reds fans finally expect to be in the playoff race come October?

There may be some hope. The Cincinnati Reds currently sit in the middle of the National League Central with a 9-7 record two and a half weeks into season play. One thing that can be said about this team is that when they’re hot, they’re winning with their ability to score runs. They currently rank third in the league with six runs per game, only behind the Atlanta Braves and the Milwaukee Brewers. On the mound, they’re allowing roughly 4.5 runs per game, ranking 15th in the category.

Unfortunately, to start the year, fans have seen some of the same inconsistencies that need resolving before having a chance at a spot in the playoffs.

The pitching rotation for the Reds has had a lack of rhythm so far this season. There have been a lot of close games that could have gone their way if it weren’t for their pitching mistakes. Pitchers Frankie Montas and Andrew Abbott have been the only two constants for the starting rotation up to this point.

Currently, there’s only one man to look to in order to save the team’s pitching issues: Nick Lodolo. The 26-year-old only had seven games under his belt last season before suffering an injury that put him out for the rest of the season. In his long-awaited return to the team, he put on a masterclass. He pitched 5.2 innings against the Chicago White Sox, striking out 10 batters with no earned runs, one walk and one hit. If this kind of production can be replicated, it would provide a stronger sense of security for Reds fans.

As said before, the Reds are third in the league for runs per game. While that’s true, there have still been inconsistencies hitting the ball. Much like the pitching staff, the batting order is young and needs a little time to develop as the season goes on. 24-year-old Christian Encarnacion-Strand shows promise of becoming a solid piece for the team. Although, admittedly, in the stage of growing pains, Encarnacion-Strand has struggled a bit to provide that batting consistency, posting a .185 average through these first few weeks. Third baseman Spencer Steer and shortstop Elly de la Cruz have been doing well at bat, but the combination of having four players who have struck out 20 times thus far and a young roster still finding their footing is bound to have some struggles in the early part of the season.

The successful history behind this team is undeniable, but it’s been four years since the last playoff game and almost 30 years since a playoff series win. The balance of youth and veteran leadership has great potential, and the year is showing that the Reds have a chance at getting back to World Series contention.

In this next portion of the 2024 MLB season, the level of play will start to ramp up. We will start to see superstars across the league start to hit their stride on their respective teams, and we will find out once and for all if our hometown Cincinnati Reds are contenders or pretenders.