The Reds will open the season with six starters on the major league roster, manager Terry Francona announced (via Mark Sheldon of MLB.com). With Hunter Greene out until midseason, Cincinnati had three rotation locks: Opening Day starter Andrew Abbott, fellow lefty Nick Lodolo and veteran right-hander Brady Singer. Lefty Brandon Williamson and righties Chase Burns and Rhett Lowder have all secured roster spots as well. The Reds won’t use a straight six-man rotation but will deploy the Burns/Lowder/Williamson trio in a to-be-determined capacity.
Charlie Goldsmith of FOX 19 writes that the Reds have labeled the setup as a “condensed” six-man rotation. Abbott, Lodolo and Singer will start the first three games. A decision has yet to be made on which of Burns, Lowder and Williamson will start games four and five for the Reds. Whichever isn’t given a start will be available in long relief or tandem/piggyback fashion for the other two. Abbott will be back on the bump for Cincinnati’s sixth game of the season.
“You’ll see (Williamson) either potentially come in after Burns, or maybe even start a game and have Lowder do it (out of the bullpen),” Francona said (via Goldsmith). “I don’t think we feel the need to say it ahead of time as far as strategy goes. That’s kind of where we’re sitting. You’ll see (Williamson) pitch one of those two days (Game 4 or 5 of the season).”
Williamson, 28 next month, entered camp as a particular long shot to make the club. He’d pitched only 30 2/3 innings over the past two seasons combined — none in 2025. He missed all of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery that was performed late in the 2024 campaign.
A former second-round pick by the Mariners, Williamson came to the Reds in the 2022 Eugenio Suárez/Jesse Winker trade. He’s pitched 131 1/3 big league innings with a 4.39 ERA to date but was a fairly well-regarded prospect with a solid minor league track record. Now healthy, Williamson has opened eyes in camp. He’s pitched 11 innings and held opponents to just two runs on only six hits and a pair of walks with 13 strikeouts (1.64 ERA, 31 K%, 4.8 BB%). He has a career 92.8 mph on his four-seamer but has been sitting 94.1 mph this spring (obviously not working as deep into games as he would in a regular season setting).
Burns and Lowder — particularly the former — seemed like much stronger rotation bets. Burns, the No. 2 overall pick in 2024, debuted last summer less than a year after being selected out of Wake Forest. The 6’3″ flamethrower obliterated minor league opposition, notching a 1.77 ERA, 36.8% strikeout rate and 5.4% walk rate in his first 13 pro starts before being summoned to the big leagues. Burns’ 4.57 ERA in 43 1/3 MLB frames last year, but much of the damage against him came early on. Burns was shredded for seven runs in just one-third of an inning against Boston in his second career start. He bounced back with a 3.32 ERA, 37.3% strikeout rate and 8.9% walk rate over his final 38 major league innings.
Lowder was the No. 7 overall pick just a year prior to Burns. Like Burns, he’s a Wake Forest product who made his MLB debut just a year after being drafted, in 2024. Lowder turned in a powerhouse 1.17 ERA in his first six MLB starts but did so with an underwhelming 17.2% strikeout rate and hefty 10.9% walk rate. His minor league work was terrific, however.
Both Burns and Lowder have had nice springs overall, though the Reds recently slowed Burns down a bit after he reported some range-of-motion issues to the club. Both promising young righties are viewed as critical long-term pieces in the rotation. It’s not entirely clear how this six-man setup will be resolved long-term. Francona told Goldsmith it’s a very short-term setup that probably won’t even last into late April. All three of Burns, Lowder and Williamson have multiple minor league option years remaining.
Francona also confirmed that reliever Connor Phillips and outfielder Will Benson have made the roster. Both have a minor league option remaining that, at least for now, won’t be used. The 24-year-old Phillips has had a rough spring, allowing seven runs in seven innings with an 18.8% walk rate, but he posted a 2.88 ERA while punching out nearly one-third of his opponents in 25 major league innings last year.
Benson has absolutely raked this spring, popping four homers and a double with as many walks as strikeouts (seven apiece) in 40 plate appearances. The 27-year-old is hitting .250/.400/.656 in 13 games. There’s no clear path to regular playing time with TJ Friedl, Noelvi Marte, JJ Bleday and Dane Myers also on the roster, but he’ll mix in as an occasional starter versus right-handed pitching and a lefty bat off the bench.
If the reds were so inclined, they could make a semi-interesting trade with these pieces.
With the possibility of injuries, they absolutely should not trade any pitchers unless it is a deal for an elite outfielder
Can’t have enough pitching
Congrats on making the roster! I wonder what the Reds are this season but this rotation is a deadly one.
With Burns not stretched out and Williamson and Lowder coming off missing a season, it makes total sense. Sounds like Moll won’t make it now with Williamson making the club.
If Benson, Bleday and Myers are all making the roster, does that mean the Reds are declining to add Nathaniel Lowe?
Did bleday make the roster, he has options?
Dunno, just going by the article that says Benson will be competing with Bleday and Myers for playing time.
I’d still guess that one of Bleday, Myers or Marte gets optioned to make room for Lowe.
It has been my contention that they put too many eggs in the Marte basket instead of going after an experienced outfielder with a track record. But you could say that on both corners in the outfield.
Myers and Marte are basically locks unless they think Marte can handle center after a few games there in spring training. My money is on bleday going to Louisville, but they may just cut Lowe idk.
Benson’s a better backup CF option than Marte. Myers obviously has the best glove but thy could get by without it absent an injury.
Hines and Bleday both deserved to make the team. Based on past results, the entire OF with the exception of Friedl don’t bring a lot of offense. Hines and Bleday will likely get their chance early on. You throw in Hayes’s lack of offense at 3B and almost half the position players could be weak with the bat. Hopefully, a full season of Suarez and Stewart along with a bounce back from McLain will offset some of that. The health of the pitchers is going to be huge.
I guess bleday is going to aaa
I think the writer is just assuming on Bleday.
The Reds aren’t going to have the luck they had last year with other teams handing them the wild card. Brewers and Cubs are better and the Pirates have improved immensely and want to win.
What moves made the Brewers better in the short term?
that’s what I was thinking rsheets…YET I’ve seen this movie before and they magically contend
Good thing the reds don’t want a wildcard this year…
They’re not good enough to win the division, sooooooo….
We will see….
Can we at least play the games?
Some folks would rather look at their spreadsheets than actually watch the games.
I’m noticing…..
In a month we can revisit this when Benson is 2 for his last 30 with 15 strikeouts. Same crap different year.
Reds should keep shakin it up ! Earn your spot with production and put these hits bats like hinds bleday and benson in the lineup from day 1 see if their hot bats carry over into the season.
Reds fans have to be excited about Matt McClain. If he can hit this year, Reds will be a whole lot better.
Benson has big power, I feel like Sal Stewart is going to hit too. Three real good teams in the NL Central, and the Pirates and Cardinals will be competitive too. Jhostnyxon Garcia had a big spring for Pittsburgh.
I’m glad to read that the “condensed” rotation is a short term plan. It’s a sure fire way to overtax a bullpen because none of the three will be able to cover the innings a starter needs to and you’re down a bullpen guy to start with.
Not if they have a good plan. I think they scale back burns early season workload. He might open games for a month then piggybacked w Williamson. The two of them should be able to go 8/9 innings
The news is that there is real competition for every active roster spot on the Reds team. Also, there are no players on the Reds 40 man roster whocould be placed on waivers and not claimed. Therefore, no “dumpster diving”.