Cincinnati Reds v Washington NationalsIt is undeniable that the heartbeat of the Cincinnati Reds roster is their starting pitching. During the 2025 regular season, in particular, that group posted an impressive 19.4 fWAR combined, a mark that was good for third-best in all of Major League Baseball (behind only the big spending Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers).
That’s by design, too. A quick glance at the projected 2026 rotation shows a cadre of former 1st round picks (Rhett Lowder, Chase Burns, Nick Lodolo, Hunter Greene) as well as a 2nd rounder (Andrew Abbott). In other words, the Reds are well aware the importance of the rotation, the attrition that always hits it, and how their business model means they need to draft and develop the best arms they can get as early in drafts as it can be.
The 2026 group hasn’t been exactly as planned, however. Greene is out until mid-summer after having elbow surgery this spring, while Lodolo has been sidelined as he battles through a recurring blister issue that’s cost him time as well as impacted which pitches he can actually throw. The current group, buoyed by veteran Brady Singer and lefty Brandon Williamson, has obviously held up well enough for the Reds to sport a 15-8 overall record so far, but they haven’t exactly been brilliant in leading the roster there.
For instance, their 6.21 K/9 ranks second worst among starting rotations league-wide. Their 4.80 expected ERA is the 8th highest, while their 4.77 xFIP ranks 3rd worst. Getting guys like Lodolo – and Greene, eventually – is only going to improve that mark, and it appears the Reds are finally getting close to that happening.
As MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon relayed, Lodolo threw 50 pitches across a trio of innings in a simulated game yesterday down in Tampa, and he’s set to head out on a rehab assignment with High-A Dayton where he’ll pitch four innings, ideally, on Sunday.
One of the batters he pitched to in said simulated game was Jose Trevino, who’s been on the IL for the last two weeks with a back/neck issue. Trevino came through the sim game unscathed, too, and it appears he could rejoin Cincinnati’s active roster as early as Wednesday.