Cincinnati Reds left-hander Brandon Williamson left his last start early.
The Cincinnati Reds starting rotation has been a major strength this season, and through 30 games they own the best record in the NL Central at 19-11. What makes that even more impressive is how they have done it without their two best arms.
Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo both have not made a start in 2026. Greene is still recovering from right elbow surgery and has barely begun throwing, while Lodolo is currently on a rehab assignment.
Unfortunately, another arm will now be joining them on the injured list in the form of left-hander Brandon Williamson. “The #Reds today recalled RHP Zach Maxwell from Triple-A Louisville and placed LHP Brandon Williamson (left shoulder fatigue) on the 15-day injured list,” the Reds wrote on X.
Williamson’s IL placement comes after a rough outing on Wednesday, when he lasted only three innings and allowed four runs on four hits and four walks during a loss to the Colorado Rockies. He underwent an MRI on Thursday morning, and the Reds made the roster move shortly after.
Before Thursday’s game against Colorado, manager Terry Francona provided more clarity. He revealed that the MRI showed no structural damage in Williamson’s left shoulder, but the 28-year-old southpaw will still need time to recover.
“He just got out of the tube. Dr. Kremchek looked at him, injected his shoulder with cortisone, and he will go on a shoulder program to try to work on range of motion and strength, all that stuff,” Francona said (h/t Mike Petraglia of CLNS Media). There is currently no timetable for Williamson’s return.
Williamson has been the weakest link in Cincinnati’s rotation so far, posting a 6.11 ERA with just 19 strikeouts in 28 innings. This is his first season back after missing all of 2025 due to Tommy John surgery, and he has not looked like the same pitcher. The Reds were hoping he would regain his pre-injury form, but the early results have been disappointing.
Williamson was one of the prospects acquired from the Seattle Mariners in the 2022 trade that sent Eugenio Suarez and Jesse Winker to Seattle, a deal that has now come full circle with Suarez back in Cincinnati for a second stint.
For a Reds team already thin on healthy starters, losing Williamson is another setback. While the rotation has held strong so far, the margin for error continues to shrink as injuries pile up.