The Cincinnati Reds' pitching depth stands to get deeper, but its series opener against the Colorado Rockies re-emphasized that the starting point in the 2026 was still plenty deep.
Twenty-three-year-old Chase Burns might not have even had his best stuff in the April 28 game. He still plowed through six innings, striking out nine. The third out of the top of the first inning marked 100 career strikeouts for Burns, making him the fastest Reds pitcher to reach the century mark.
Burns exited the game with Cincinnati leading, 4-2. Cincinnati went on to win 7-2, improving to 19-10 this season and remaining atop the National League Central division.
Cincinnati's bullpen took down the last three innings in scoreless fashion, improving upon their collective 2.91 ERA, which was already the second-best bullpen ERA in the majors. With the score still 4-2, Graham Ashcraft worked through traffic to record a scoreless seventh inning and Tony Santillan also worked around baserunners to blank the Rockies in the eighth.
Then, with Emilio Pagán warming in the bullpen for a would-be save situation, Cincinnati's offense blew the game open. Brock Burke was then chosen to record the final three outs,
Elsewhere in the Reds organization, manager Terry Francona reported progress for starters Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo earlier on April 28.
However good the pitching has been through 29 games, reinforcements are coming.
Greene, still working out of the club's Goodyear, Arizona, Player Development Complex, was throwing from about 110 feet, and was roughly three weeks from his first bullpen session, Francona said. It was still to be determined when Greene would rejoin the Reds in Cincinnati to continue his return from spring surgery on his throwing elbow.
"For sure, once he starts to throw hiss bullpens, we'd definitely like to get him here. We're kind of working through that now," Francona said. "It's nice to have guys around. It really is, and it's probably good for him. Same time, he can get one-on-one... The hands-on treatment they get there is so good that we'll probably encourage him to stay there a little bit. At least until his bullpens."
Lodolo was set for a second rehab start after successfully completing a rehab start after failing to do so earlier in April.
Pitching April 26 for the Cincinnati Reds' High-A affiliate in Dayton, Lodolo (left index finger blister) went five innings on a day when he was scheduled to pitch four. He tossed 39 strikes on 51 pitches, allowing just two hits with no walks and seven strikeouts. Francona said on April 28 that Lodolo included eight breaking balls in his 51 pitches, which was promising because his grip on those pitches can agitate the blister.
The Reds would then reassess Lodolo's status following his outing in Omaha, Francona said.
Against the Rockies, Elly De La Cruz provided all the offense Burns and the bullpen would need. He had two RBI singles through three innings and then lined a two-run homer to left field in a three-run eighth inning.
De La Cruz's first-inning pop-up found the grass in between three Rockies fielders to plate Dane Myers for a 1-0 lead. De La Cruz would then score later in the inning when Spencer Steer clapped a no-doubt homer to the seats in right field.
Cincinnati's next burst of offensive after De La Cruz lined a single up the middle in the third inning was the All-Star shortstop's 10th homer of 2026.
Nathaniel Lowe capped the scoring with an RBI single to play Sal Stewart, who reached on a ground-rule double.
A victory April 29 would make five consecutive series wins for Cincinnati, and it will send out lefty starter Brandon Williamson (2-2, 5.40 ERA) to accomplish the feat. Williamson is scheduled to be opposed by right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano (2-1, 3.42 ERA).
The game at Great American Ball Park is scheduled for a 6:40 p.m. first pitch.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Reds defeat Colorado Rockies, showing off pitching depth