Cincinnati Reds: mlb FUTURES & BETTING ODDS

CINCINNATI REDS 2021 OUTLOOK

The Reds sensed they had enough pitching to win and bolstered their offense going into 2020. That paid off with their first winning season and playoff berth since 2013, even though the playoff trip was brief in a two-game sweep by Atlanta in the NL first round that didn't see the Reds score a run in the two games. 

No matter, adding Nick Castellanos, Mike Moustakas, and Shogo Akiyama paid off, and the Reds are hopeful to take another step forward in 2021 under manager David Bell, who is a Cincinnati native.

2021 Featured Players

Luis Castillo is projected to easily surpass the 200-strikeout mark this season, and veteran Sonny Gray could get there as well. Tyler Mahle is poised to take a step forward, and Wade Miley is coming off an injury-shortened season, so we'll see how he performs. Rafael Iglesias is gone from the closer role, as he was traded to the Angels, so Amir Garrett takes over ninth-inning duties. Lucas Sims and Tejay Antone will also be leaned upon in high-leverage situations. 

Offensively, Joey Votto remains at first base but he is probably the fourth- or fifth-largest threat in the lineup now. Eugenio Suarez could belt 40 home runs and drive in 100, while Moustakas and Castellanos can be good for 30 homers each in their first full season in hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park. 

Bet on the Cincinnati Reds! Cincinnati Reds Odds for 2021

The oddsmakers are giving the Reds a little bit of love, as the Cincinnati Reds odds to win the World Series stand at 35/1, which is their best number by far in nearly a decade. A bet on the Cincinnati Reds can be made to win the National League at 20/1 odds, and they are just behind St. Louis in odds to win the National League Central division; the Cincinnati Reds odds to capture the division for the first time since 2012 are at +333.

Cincinnati Reds Logo, Uniform & Stadium History

The Reds are Major League Baseball's oldest franchise still playing, as they began operation in 1882 as the Cincinnati Red Stockings. They were also briefly known as the Redlegs in the 1950s. The Reds are most known for their 1970s team that was so loaded on offense it was known as the "Big Red Machine." The group reached the playoffs five times from 1970-76, reaching the World Series four times, and winning it twice. Stars on that team included Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Pete Rose, Tony Perez, George Foster, and Frank Robinson under manager Sparky Anderson.

The Reds returned to the World Series in 1990 with manager Lou Piniella, led by ace pitcher Jose Rijo and shortstop Barry Larkin. They also featured the "Nasty Boys," a bullpen trio that was nearly impossible to beat—Randy Myers, Rob Dibble, and Norm Charlton. 

The Reds played for decades at Riverfront Stadium before moving a few blocks over on the banks of the Ohio River to the Great American Ball Park, which opened in 2003. 

The home and away jerseys have remained the same for generations. The home cap is all red with a white C on top, and the uniform is white with the Reds logo on the left side of the jersey and the uniform number on the right with piping down the middle where the jersey buttons up. The road grays say "CINCINNATI" across the front in red and the road cap has a black brim. There are red alternate jersey tops that read "Reds" in white script across the front. 

2020 Record: 31-29, Fourth Place in National League Central (Lost to Braves in NL First Round)