Reds bullpen reality check arrives but long term outlook stays bright

The Cincinnati Reds bullpen has been the strength of the team throughout the first several weeks of the 2026 season. But on Sunday against the Detroit Tigers, the Reds' relief corps finally showed some cracks.

Reds starter Rhett Lowder battled through some first-inning hiccups and handed a 3-2 lead over to the bullpen after five innings. Brock Burke walked two batters during his sole inning of work, but was able to escape the sixth unscathed. Unfortunately, the rest of the relievers were not as lucky.

Sam Moll surrendered the Reds' lead after giving up a two-run homer to Hao-Yu Lee in the seventh inning. Pierce Johnson followed and gave up a solo shot to Tigers' slugger Spencer Torkelson, and José Franco allowed two runs on two hits, including an eighth inning round-tripper off the bat of Gleyber Torres.

Reds bullpen faltered, but it's not time to panic

The Reds bullpen owned the best ERA in the big leagues prior to Sunday's game against the Tigers. They're now second behind the Texas Rangers with a very respectable 2.91 ERA. Reds relievers have combined for 107 punch outs have allowed the fourth-fewest hits (77) in all of baseball.

In other words, don't let one bad outing from the Reds' bullpen create a Chicken Little complex where you think the sky is falling. It's not — not yet anyway. While Cincy's bullpen is unlikely to remain atop most statistical categories, the Reds should be able to count on their group with regularity. One can easily argue that this year's bullpen is better than last year's, and that band of pitchers posted a 3.89 ERA by season's end.

The one problem the Reds' bullpen is enduring this season is walks. Cincinnati relief pitchers have issued 70 free passes to the opposition — only the Washington Nationals, Houston Astros, and Chicago White Sox have walked more batters. This is an issue that Reds manager Terry Francona and pitching coach Derek Johnson need to address moving forward.

Reds fans should just chalk Sunday's struggles up to the effects of a 162-game season. Much like the bullpen carried the Reds during the first few weeks of the season, the lineup and rotation will have to do their part as the rest of the 2026 campaign unfolds. That's baseball, folks.

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