Reds may be forced to promote Rhett Lowder after latest injury to starting rotation

You can now add Nick Lodolo to the ever-growing list of injured Cincinnati Reds starting pitchers. The Reds lost Brandon Williamson before the start of the season, and then Graham Ashcraft landed on the IL. More recently, the Reds have lost both Hunter Greene and Andrew Abbott.

Now Lodolo will join his fellow starters on the IL after suffering a sprained middle finger. Lodolo had been dealing with a blister on his left hand earlier this season, and a number of fans surmised that it was that injury that caused a downturn in his production during the second-half of the season.

But with Lodolo out of action, the Reds may be forced to think outside the box. While Nick Krall and Co. could take the coward's way out and call up some has-been or no-name from Triple-A Louisville, the Reds should do the right thing, and promote their top pitching prospect. It's time for Rhett Lowder to make his big league debut.

Reds may be forced to promote Rhett Lowder after latest injury to starting rotation

The Reds recalled Casey Legumina to replace Lodolo on the roster and former Milwaukee Brewers reliever Jakob Junis is slated to be the opener for Tuesday's game against the Oakland A's, but Cincinnati has some decisions to make going forward.

The duo of Nick Martinez and Carson Spiers just pitched on Sunday, so their normal four-days rest would set them up to return on Friday. Julian Aguiar toed the rubber on Saturday, meaning that he's likely lined up to take the ball for the Reds' series finale against the A's on Thursday. But who's going to start on Wednesday? Furthermore, with a doubleheader on Friday, the Reds are going to need some reinforcements.

It's time for the Reds to just rip the bandage off and call up Lowder. Though he's started just one game at the Triple-A level, Lowder has proven to be a highly-developed starting pitcher during his lone season in professional baseball. Lowder is 6-4 with a 3.64 ERA in 22 minor league starts this season. The former first-round pick has logged 108.1 innings this season, but pitched over 120 innings for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in 2023.

Lowder would be a much better option than Connor Phillips. The former Seattle Mariners farmhand was brought back to Triple-A Louisville last week, and still couldn't find the strike zone. Phillips walked four batters and was pulled during the third inning.

In a season that's all but lost, why not give the home fans something to cheer for and get excited about. The Reds should find a way to get Lowder to the big leagues this season.

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