The Cincinnati Reds are facing another rotation setback, as rookie right-hander Rhett Lowder is set to land on the 15-day injured list. The news comes after a concerning outing on Thursday, when Lowder was escorted off the mound by a trainer following back-to-back walks in consecutive innings. Reports surfaced that he had felt a "clicking" sensation in his right shoulder, though an MRI on Friday came back clean—a welcome sign for the organization.

Despite the clean imaging, the Reds are taking no chances with their promising young arm. Lowder has already endured a completely lost 2025 season due to forearm and oblique issues, and the team is just 41 games into a grueling 162-game marathon. Manager Terry Francona confirmed the IL move, but noted that Lowder will "continue to throw" while sidelined, suggesting this is more about precaution than a major setback.

Let's be honest: expecting Lowder to suddenly shoulder a full workload of 32 starts and 175 innings was always optimistic. He threw just 139.1 innings across all levels in 2024 before his injury-plagued 2025 season. While this isn't a planned break, it's the kind of innings management the Reds likely baked into their plans for 2026. The timing isn't ideal, but it's precisely why the front office was hesitant to trade from their starting pitching depth over the winter.

That depth is now being tested. The Reds are currently without Hunter Greene, Brandon Williamson, and Lowder. One potential replacement is Chase Petty, who impressed in his season debut earlier this week in Chicago. He's starting for Triple-A Louisville today, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him recalled during Lowder's absence—though not for Lowder's next scheduled turn. That could leave the door open for Jose Franco, who hasn't pitched at any level since May 7th.

For Reds fans, this is a frustrating but familiar story. The team is navigating a delicate balance between competing now and protecting their young arms for the future. Lowder's clean MRI is the silver lining, but his absence is a reminder that in baseball, depth is never as deep as you think.