Reds make shocking Opening Day decision that will leave fans confused but hopeful

The Cincinnati Reds will be carrying six starting pitchers on their 2026 Opening Day roster, but don't call it a six-man rotation. FOX19 contributor Charlie Goldsmith is reporting that Rhett Lowder, Chase Burns, and Brandon Williamson will all be part of the Reds Opening Day roster.

According to Reds manager Terry Francona, this will not last forever, and the plan is to keep all three pitchers stretched out to start. The expectation is that Williamson will come on in relief of Burns or Lowder for Game 4 or 5 of the 2026 season, but Francona left open the possibility of mixing and matching those three depending on the opponent.

This is certainly not what most Reds fans expected when spring training began, and had Hunter Greene not undergone elbow surgery last week, the plan likely would've been different altogether. But for now, Lowder, Burns, Williamson, Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo, and Brady Singer will all break camp with the big league ball club.

Brandon Williamson played his way onto the Reds Opening Day roster

Williamson has earned this honor. The left-hander suffered an elbow injury at the tail end of the 2024 season and missed all of 2025 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Williamson has arguably been Cincinnati's best starting pitcher this spring with a 1.64 ERA and 13 punch outs in his first four Cactus League games.

Keeping the trio of Lowder, Burns, and Williamson on the Opening Day roster, especially during the early-going, should also help balance the workload for three pitchers who all missed time in 2025.

Williamson, as mentioned previously, was recovering from Tommy John surgery. Lowder battled a forearm strain last spring and then suffered an oblique injury during a rehab assignment that forced him to miss the entire season. Burns was shutdown for a few weeks late last season with a Grade 1 right flexor strain.

Goldsmith also mentioned that former top prospect Connor Phillips will be part of the Reds Opening Day roster, meaning that six of the seven bullpen spots have now been spoken for.

With Williamson — a left-handed pitcher — now on the roster, Sam Moll's spot may not been as clear cut as it was last week. Hagen Danner is also looking to secure an invite to Cincinnati on Opening Day.