According to Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell, if he could choose one strength of an MLB team, he’d choose a strong starting rotation.
With a strong rotation, Bell said he sees a better opportunity to stay in close games. A good starting rotation can save the bullpen and stabilize roles in high-leverage situations.
For the first month of the season, the Reds had the worst statistical rotation in MLB. Since then, as the Reds have gone 12-8 over their last 20 games, the rotation is arguably the biggest reason the Reds have taken a step in the right direction.