Reds get best possible Brady Singer news amid rotation concerns

The Cincinnati Reds starting rotation is beginning to look more like a hospital waiting room rather than the strength of the team. Brady Singer left his most recent start after suffering a blister issue due to the Arizona heat, Hunter Greene's arthroscopic surgery will keep him out until July, and Nick Lodolo left Sunday's Cactus League finale with a blister on his left index finger.

Fortunately, there's some good news on the injury front for one of the Reds starters. Singer reports that the issue is back to normal and he's on schedule for the start of the 2026 season.

Brady Singer's blister scare serves as a reminder of how critical he is to the Reds' rotation

For as good as Cincinnati's rotation looks, even in light of Greene's absence, it is easy to see how things can unravel fast. Lodolo finally had a (mostly) healthy year in 2025, but his injury record is littered with bumps and bruises that have made him hard to rely on — his early-exit on Sunday is yet another reminder of that.

Lowder and Burns are both unproven, with the former coming off a major injury of his own, adding to the risk of including the youngsters in the starting rotation. An injury here and some poor performance over there, and it's easy to see this thing getting well off track. If the Reds' starters aren't up to par, it will put more stress on a bullpen that isn't without question marks and could prove to be a serious detriment to the club's hopes of contending.

That's why Singer is so important. The 29-year-old is the glue that holds everything together. While he's not a star, he consistently shows up every fifth day and gives his team a chance to win ball games. There's immense value in that.

Since 2022, Singer's 662⅓ innings rank 15th in baseball. That kind of rubber-armed production doesn't grow on trees. Thankfully, part of being that durable is a byproduct of his being a fast healer. He's avoided most major injuries, and these minor ones haven't spiraled.

Losing him for an extended period of time would force the Reds to dip further into the depth and pool of top prospects, and while that's in some way an exciting proposition, it's a risk for a team that isn't looking to just make the postseason this year, but also make some noise once it gets there.

So while Abbott will draw most of the eyes in the season's first half, and Greene will generate buzz once he returns to action down the stretch, remember that it's Singer who is quietly the engine that makes everything go.