The Cincinnati Reds' starting rotation entered the season as the team's undeniable strength—widely considered one of the best in baseball. But through the first month, it hasn't quite lived up to those sky-high expectations. Still, the unit has done just enough to keep the Reds in the hunt, and the team is enjoying its best start since 2006.

Two key pieces are missing from the rotation: Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo, both on the injured list. Lodolo is making progress, starting a rehab assignment with a return to the big leagues on the horizon. Greene, meanwhile, is working his way back at the Reds' spring training facility and isn't expected back until July.

In their absence, Andrew Abbott stepped up to start on Opening Day. But the timing hasn't been ideal—Abbott is going through his toughest month as a big leaguer. "It's been a tough start," Abbott admitted. "I was talking to Pierce (Johnson) and the veterans on the team. They say you've just got to ride the wave and keep showing up, keep being available, keep throwing innings. That's what I'm going to do. I know things aren't going well for me personally. The team is winning. We're in the games. We had a chance to win it. If that's what I can do, that's all I ask for."

Despite his 6.59 ERA, the Reds have won three of his last four starts. Abbott is focusing on mechanics and command to bounce back. "I'm trying to eliminate the lulls in the inning," he said. "Lulling in the one particular game, that can't happen. I want to take that out."

Brady Singer, the Reds' highest-paid pitcher, carries a 4.97 ERA. His velocity isn't where he wants it, and he's struggling to put hitters away. But even on off nights, he's doing enough to keep the team in games. "You try not to freak out this early in the season," Singer said. "But you constantly work on stuff. We'll work on stuff this week through the end of September."

The real excitement in the rotation comes from the young guns: Rhett Lowder and Chase Burns. Lowder has shown veteran poise beyond his years, especially in his ability to shake off rocky first innings. In his most recent start against the Detroit Tigers, he allowed two runs over five innings with seven strikeouts—a gritty performance that highlighted his adaptability. "I was getting two strikes in this one and they're a team that doesn't really chase that much," Lowder explained. "You kind of knew that. I kept trying to get them to chase and it kind of came back to bite me." After a tough first inning, he adjusted on the fly. "We kind of flipped the script on them," he said.

The Reds' rotation may still be warming up, but it's doing its part—and there's plenty of reason to believe the best is yet to come.