Cincinnati Reds Starting Rotation Nearly Finalized With Opening Day Looming

The Cincinnati Reds starting rotation is becoming clearer with Opening Day just nine days away. The Cincinnati Reds have finalized four of the five spots according to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com.

Opening Day starter Frankie Montas was always a lock. Hunter Greene was also a lock. Graham Ashcraft and Nick Martinez earned the other two spots.

Nick Lodolo is slated to join the team on April 10th and be slotted into the rotation, but there is a battle going on for the fifth rotation spot until Lodolo is ready. Andrew Abbott and Brandon Williamson are vying for that spot.

Martinez would presumably be in line to move to the bullpen upon Lodolo’s return. That is a role he played often for the San Diego Padres over the past two seasons. He's a pitcher that can start when you need him and come out of the bullpen when you need him. His value to this team will be immense.

The surprise, for me, is the report that Abbott is not being penciled into the rotation just yet. He was the team’s best performer out of the rotation last year. While he didn’t make as many starts as Ashcraft or Williamson, he was very effective.