If you consider the top predicted starting rotations for 2024, you won't bat an eye at the first couple of teams you see. At No. 1 are the Braves, who simply added Chris Sale to pitch alongside Spencer Strider, Max Fried and Charlie Morton. At No. 2, the Phillies, with their pair of aces in Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler. And after that at No. 3 are the Dodgers, who are filled with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and the returning Pedestrian Buehler.But then you start seeing some shocks. Below's one group you might not have actually expected to see in the Leading 5: the Reds.The Reds' beginning pitchers rated 25th out of the 30 MLB groups in Wins Above Substitute in 2023, and 28th out of 30 in age. Yet they're supposed to be a top-five starting rotation in 2024? Without having actually added any of the marquee starters on the free-agent or profession market?Here's just how they can do it. Cincinnati's forecasts aren't appearing of nowhere. The Reds' toughness is their deep corps of starting pitching choices Hunter Greene Philadelphia Phillies Store, Nick Lodolo, Graham Ashcraft, Andrew Abbott, Frankie Montas, Nick Martinez, plus possibly toolsy prospects like Rhett Lowder on the method and the high ceiling of those options.But they need to place everything together. The dark-horse Reds can have among the very best turnings in the Majors if these 4 things take place.1) Greene and Lodolo come to be the aces they're meant to beThe projections were thrilled regarding Greene and Lodolo in 2014 after promising rookie periods from the duo in 2022, both were projected for over 200 strikeouts in '23. That really did not take place. Component of it was expanding discomforts; a big part of it was injuries. None of it was absence of talent.These are 2 electrical young starting pitchers. Greene is 24. He has hit triple digits over three times as frequently as any type of other starter since his debut. Lodolo is 25. He has a trademark pitch in his wipeout curveball, which creates exclusive swing-and-miss numbers, and whatever he tosses has plus-plus movement.So the projections are right back on Greene and Lodolo's side. Both are projected for over 10 K/9 in 2024. With a strikeout pace like that over a full, healthy and balanced season from the two of them, they can develop into those 200 K aces quicker as opposed to later.As it stands, Greene is projected for 195 K's, and Lodolo for 141, however that's as a result of the opportunity the lefty sees a long time as a swingman in between the turning and bullpen. He could blow past that number if he remains in the rotation all year.2) Frankie Montas is the A's version of himselfThe Reds did make one enhancement to their beginning rotation, a high-upside play who can assist them get to that leading turning status. if it functions out.That move was to authorize Montas after an injury-plagued period in New York. The Yankees traded for Montas in 2022 during his breakout run as the A's ace, yet Montas had a hard time after the profession as he dealt with shoulder problems that led to surgical procedure and compelled him to miss virtually the entire 2023 period.