5 Biggest Takeaways for Cincinnati Reds Following MLB Opening Week

The Cincinnati Reds have opened the 2015 season with a bang, and given what happened during the first week, there are a lot of reasons for Reds fans to be excited for the rest of the season.

Although many people picked Cincinnati to finish near the bottom of the National League Central, it has come out strong and looks like a team that could be playing meaningful baseball in September. The Reds opened the season by playing two teams that have made the postseason in each of the past two seasons. The result: 4-2.

Cincinnati has made the playoffs three times since 2010. Last season was derailed by injuries, but early on this year, it looks like the team's core is healthy—which is leading to good things.

Sure, the season is just one week old. There's still a long way to go, but this Reds squad has shown plenty of promising signs against quality opponents.

Joey Votto Is Back...and Is Very, Very Good

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Joey Votto missed 100 games in 2014 due to a quad injury. Well, now that he's healthy, he's raking.

Manager Bryan Price decided to put Votto in the No. 2 spot in the lineup and has seen big results early on this season. Through the first six games, the 2010 National League Most Valuable Player has hit .333 with three home runs and eight RBI. He hit just six home runs in 62 games last season.

For someone who dealt with a leg injury, Votto isn't playing afraid. He already has two stolen bases this season.

There was no question that the Reds would need Votto to be healthy and return to form in order to contend this season. Right now, the 31-year-old first baseman is driving the ball and producing runs.

Cincinnati missed Votto's presence in the lineup last year. Now that he's back, the offense is looking much improved.

2014 Season Was No Fluke for Todd Frazier

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Through the first three (full) seasons of his major league career, Todd Frazier had yet to put up strong numbers in back-to-back seasons. That trend looks like it's going to end this season.

Frazier hit .273 in his rookie season in 2012, dropped down to .234 in 2013 and bounced back up to .273 last season. He is sporting a .292 average and is putting good wood on the ball in nearly every at-bat.

A year after hitting a career-high 29 home runs, Frazier has opened the season with three blasts in five games. Considering Bryan Price has Frazier batting third, the Reds are going to need the third baseman to provide some pop.

Frazier has four extra-base hits and eight RBI. While the bottom of the lineup hasn't been producing, Joey Votto and Frazier are doing their jobs and putting runs on the board.

Back of Rotation May Be Good Enough to Help Reds Contend

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After dealing Mat Latos and 2014 NL All-Star Alfredo Simon in the offseason, Cincinnati's rotation figured to take a big step back this year. With the way the back of the rotation has started the season, the drop-off may not be as big as anticipated.

Johnny Cueto, Homer Bailey and Mike Leake were all starters the Reds could count on to give quality starts every time out. After that trio, the rotation had several question marks. Bailey starting the season on the disabled list added some more uncertainty to the rotation.

However, through one turn in the rotation, the question marks have been pleasant surprises.

Anthony DeSclafani, whom the Reds acquired in the Latos deal, was very impressive in his team debut. The right-hander allowed just two runs on five hits in six innings and struck out six. It is important to note that one of the runs he allowed scored after Zack Cozart was unable to make a tough play. The 24-year-old doesn't have overpowering stuff, but he certainly knows how to use all of his pitches.

Following up DeSclafani, veteran right-hander Jason Marquis was able to limit the St. Louis Cardinals to three runs on five hits in six innings. In that quality start, he struck out seven batters. Marquis got off to a rough start, allowing three runs in the first two innings, but settled down and retired 12 in a row at one point.

As for Raisel Iglesias, the Cuban right-hander had an impressive major league debut against the Cardinals. He was extremely dominant through the first four innings before getting hit a little bit in his final inning. Iglesias' stuff is ready, but he may benefit from getting some more experience while pitching out of the bullpen.

Considering that DeSclafani, Marquis and Iglesias had to face the two teams that many picked to finish No. 1 and 2 in the division, Cincinnati has to be pleased with the results thus far.

Middle Relief Is Still an Issue

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Like last season, Price may have a rough time getting the ball from the starters to closer Aroldis Chapman.

Through the first week, J.J. Hoover and Tony Cingrani are the only relievers outside of Chapman who look like they can be trusted. Jumbo Diaz has looked pretty good overall, but he did falter on Sunday. A team needs more than three or four relievers it can rely on.

Southpaw Manny Parra has gotten just three of the six batters he has faced out. Early on, he is looking like the pitcher who struggled in 2014 rather than the reliever who was able to get big outs in 2013.

Cincinnati added some veterans this past offseason to improve its bullpen. However, newcomers Kevin Gregg and Burke Badenhop struggled in the opening week.

Gregg has pitched in three games this season, with the Reds leading or tied in all of them when he entered. By the time he exited those games, each one had a completely different outlook. The veteran right-hander has been hit hard and has allowed five runs in just two innings of work. In total, he has coughed up the lead in two games and taken the loss in his other appearance. Yikes. 

Badenhop, a ground-ball pitcher, has had trouble missing the sweet spots of the bats. He has been touched up for two runs on five hits and a walk in 2.2 innings this season, spanning three appearances. In one of the outings, the right-hander allowed an inherited runner to score the go-ahead run. Given that Badenhop has the ability to induce ground balls, Price would love to be able to call on him in a jam. However, he has to earn Price's trust.

It's no secret that the Reds have a great closer. However, the manager may struggle to get the ball to the closer with the lead still intact if the middle relievers don't step up.

Reds Have Changed Their Fortune in Tight Games

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The 2014 Reds, depleted by injuries, could not win tight games. The 2015 Reds are (relatively) healthy and finding ways to win close games.

Last season, Cincinnati went 22-38 in one-run games. No other team had more than 30 such losses. Despite being without Joey Votto and having an injured Jay Bruce and Brandon Phillips, the Reds were able to stay in most games last year. They were just unable to get the key hits and pull out wins in those tight situations.

This year, the Reds are having good at-bats late, getting clutch hits and pulling out wins. Cincinnati's first four wins have come in its last at-bat, including two walk-offs. A shaky bullpen has forced the Reds to come up with runs late, but the offense has responded to the challenge so far.

Cincinnati had to find a way to reverse last year's trend of losing tight games if it wanted to contend this season. With a healthy lineup, the Reds have done just that—well, at least more than they did last season.

Fans would certainly enjoy seeing the team start to have some comfortable wins rather than always waiting until the final at-bat. It is good to know, however, that the team is able to grind out wins against tough teams because that's how baseball games are won in October.

All stats are via MLB.com.