The Cincinnati Reds were dealt a major setback this week that could have lasting consequences for the rest of their season—and it all centers around one of their top young arms, Rhett Lowder.
Lowder, a highly regarded rookie and key piece of the Reds’ future rotation plans, had already been placed on the 60-day injured list back in early June after suffering an oblique injury during a rehab start for Triple-A Louisville. While fans held out hope he might return in the second half of the season, that hope was dashed when manager Terry Francona gave a blunt and definitive update during a media session this week.
“He’s going to have a pretty big buildup,” Francona explained, making it clear that Lowder’s season is officially over. Instead of pitching again for the Reds this year, his next appearance might not come until the Arizona Fall League in the offseason—a similar recovery timeline that Matt McLain followed in 2024 after missing the entire season with a shoulder issue.
This news leaves the Reds in an increasingly precarious situation. Their rotation is now paper-thin. Already without top starter Hunter Greene, who is sidelined indefinitely, the Reds also lost Carson Spiers to a lingering injury. Spiers had begun a rehab assignment, but was recently pulled and may now also be out for the remainder of the season.
Rotation Under Siege
The Reds’ rotation woes don’t stop there. Right-handers Julian Aguiar and lefty Brandon Williamson are still on the injured list, and depth took another hit when Aaron Wilkerson opted out of his minor league deal and signed with the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals. That’s five arms, including Lowder, now unavailable for Cincinnati.
With the trade deadline just days away, this injury news couldn’t come at a worse time.
Nick Lodolo and Andrew Abbott have stepped up as the only consistent forces in the rotation, but behind them, questions mount. Chase Burns, a talented young pitcher with upside, is on a strict innings limit. Nick Martinez has had an inconsistent campaign, and Brady Singer is coming off one of his worst starts of the season. The rotation, once seen as a strength, is now a glaring concern.
Help from the Minors? Not So Fast
Some reinforcements do exist at Triple-A Louisville, where the Reds have Chase Petty and Brian Van Belle on the roster. Petty, however, has struggled in his three MLB outings this season and lacks the experience to be relied upon heavily down the stretch. Van Belle, who was acquired in a trade with the Boston Red Sox, has made five starts for the Bats with mixed results—going 1-3 with a 4.26 ERA.
Neither option presents a clear solution to the Reds’ growing dilemma.
What Does This Mean for the Trade Deadline?
Now hovering around the .500 mark in the standings, the Reds are stuck in a state of limbo. President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall hasn’t tipped his hand yet about which way the club will go at the trade deadline—buy or sell. But the loss of Lowder could be the tipping point.
If the Reds are serious about staying in the playoff picture, Krall and his front office might have no choice but to target a veteran starter who can provide stability in the back half of the rotation. There’s little margin for error now. The team’s postseason hopes could hinge on whether or not they can patch together a functional starting staff in time.
In what was shaping up to be a pivotal season for a rising Reds team, Lowder’s injury throws a major wrench in the plans—and with the trade deadline fast approaching, all eyes are now on the front office to see how they respond
