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2026 Cincinnati Reds Predictions with Odds to Win World Series and Futures Picks

by Ryan Cobbett - 3/23/2026

Cincinnati Reds predictions Elly De La Cruz

The Cincinnati Reds will be without their best starting pitcher to start the season, meaning there is some intrigue surrounding the prospects who will get their chance in the Reds starting rotation. Rhett Lowder, Chase Burns, Brandon Williamson, and Andrew Abbott all float positive potential, but the high ceiling also bottoms out pretty quickly if these young pitchers fail to establish themselves early. The Reds are in big need of a big season and playoff appearance before this generation of young stars departs via free agency.

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Summary of Last Season

Last season the Reds finished the regular season with an 83-79 record, snagging the last wild card in the NL thanks to a tiebreaker over the New York Mets. They finished the regular season with a +35-run differential, which was the second worst among playoff teams. Their playoff run was short as they were swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Wild Card Round.

The Reds lineup was average, finishing 14th in runs. They finished 19th in hits, 21st in homeruns, 19th in stolen bases, and 19th in OPS. Elly De La Cruz finished with a team best 3.6 WAR after totaling 22 homeruns, 37 stolen bases, 86 RBIs, and 102 runs. Spencer Steer was the only other hitter to reach the 20-homerun mark, clubbing 21 homeruns. Matt McLain finished second on the team in stolen bases with 18, while also hitting 15 homeruns and tallying 50 RBIs. TJ Friedl finished second on the Reds with a 2.3 WAR after hitting 14 homeruns, stealing 12 bases, knocking in 53 RBIs, and finishing second on the team with 151 hits. De La Cruz, McLain, and Friedl were joined by Noelvi Marte as Reds players to record double-digit homeruns and stolen bases.

As for the pitching staff, the Reds finished the regular season ranked 12th in team ERA, fourth in quality starts, 16th in homeruns allowed, and seventh in WHIP. Andrew Abbott led the team last season with a 5.6 WAR, while Nick Lodolo (4.9), Hunter Greene (4.4), and Brady Singer (3.1) all finished with a WAR over 3.0. Singer led the team with 15 quality starts and in innings pitched with 169.2. Greene had a 11.0 K/9 ration with a 7-4 record, though he was limited to just 19 starts last season. Singer, Abbott, and Nick Martinez all recorded over 165 innings pitched last season.

Key Additions/Losses

After their brief postseason appearance, the Reds saw relievers Ian Gibaut, Scott Barlow, and Brent Suter, utilitymen Santiago Espinal and Miguel Andujar, starting pitchers Zack Littell, Martinez, and Wade Miley, and outfielder Austin Hays become free agents. The Reds later traded utilityman Gavin Lux to the Tampa Bay Rays in a three-team trade.

As for the additions, the Reds refueled their bullpen with reliever Caleb Ferguson, Hagen Danner, Pierce Johnson, Brock Burke, Anthony Misiewicz, Yunior Marte, and Kyle Nicolas. The Reds rounded out their rotational depth with the additions of first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, third baseman Eugenio Suarez, first baseman/outfielder Michael Toglia, outfielders Dane Myers and JJ Bleday, and utility man Garrett Hampson.

Prospect Outlook

While the Reds are in the midst of their small winning window, their prospect pipeline is not as strong as it has been in recent memory. Their farm system ranks 15th in the MLB, with four Top 100 prospects in the league. They have two prospects set to have some impact on the Reds this season. Top prospect Sal Stewart is ranked 22nd in the Top 100 rankings, as the infielder showcases a solid bat with a reliable glove. Right-handed pitcher, and 86th ranked prospect, Lowder is expected to be a regular presence on the mound with Greene’s extending absence. Lowder’s strong command of his pitches makes him a solid candidate for a rotation spot in the years to come. Sandwiched between their two, MLB-ready prospects are catcher Alfredo Duno and shortstop Steele Hall. Duno is the 38th ranked prospect, while Hall comes in at 83rd on the list.

X-Factors

The Front Office- The Reds are the prototypical small-market team trying to get some postseason wins and let chance give them a deep run. They have a young team with some veterans littered on their roster. If the Reds are in contention, expect the front office to be aggressive at the deadline as they try and win now with their top players like Abbott and De La Cruz. If the Reds struggle, they may be quick to sell and try and retool their prospect pipeline. This Reds team is literally teetering, and their early season performance will set the course for the front office this season.

2026 Cincinnati Reds Notable Odds:

Win Total: 80.5

World Series Champions- +5000

Pennant Winners- +2500

Division Winners- +500

NL MVP- Elly De La Cruz +3000

NL MVP- Eugenio Suarez +15000

NL Cy Young- Nick Lodolo +5000

NL Rookie of the Year- Sal Stewart +700

NL Rookie of the Year- Rhett Lowder +3500

2026 Cincinnati Reds Predictions

The Reds have an interesting season ahead of them with Greene’s extended absence. De La Cruz did not and is seemingly not interested in signing an extension with the Reds, which would add an interesting twist if the Reds decided to be major sellers. There is too much variability on this roster, which makes them an unattractive choice for future bets. They could be worth some couch change on winning the division with +500 odds in the event they bought in on the current roster, but I think it is much more likely that they sell. Take the under on the win total, and do not put a lot on this Cincinnati team.

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