The Reds get good news on Lowder.
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Rhett Lowder left Thursday's start against the Chicago Cubs in the fourth inning with right shoulder discomfort, and what he had to say after the game did not make anyone feel better about a rotation that is already falling apart.
Lowder threw just 59 pitches before the Reds pulled him from what became an 8-3 loss at Wrigley Field, with Cincinnati's seventh straight defeat dropping the club to 20-18.
Through three innings he had allowed only a solo home run to Michael Conforto, but his control went sideways in the fourth when back-to-back walks brought manager Terry Francona and the training staff to the mound before Lowder walked off the field.
Lowder Speaks on the Injury
After the game Thursday, Lowder was honest about where things stand physically but did not have much in the way of answers.
"I've been kind of grinding through some stuff," Lowder said. "We will find out more tomorrow and go from there."
He was clearly bothered by having to leave his teammates short, especially with how thin the Reds' pitching staff has been stretched lately.
"I don't know yet, really. Obviously, annoyed that I couldn't stay in there and help the team out and help the bullpen, especially coming off of last start and where we are at," Lowder said. "I've been working through some stuff, but we'll see."
Friday Brings Some Relief
The news got better on Friday.
Francona told reporters before the Houston series opener that Lowder's MRI came back "structurally good" and that he received an injection to his AC joint to allow it to "calm down."
The next 36 hours will determine what happens, and if Lowder feels up to it and the staff believes it is the "right thing," he could throw a side session on Sunday.
No decision has been made on the injured list.
Bigger Picture for the Rotation
Even with the encouraging MRI, Lowder's situation fits a troubling pattern.
He missed nearly all of 2025 with a forearm strain and an oblique injury, then came back for the 2026 rotation and posted a 5.40 ERA across 38.1 innings through seven starts, nowhere close to the 1.17 ERA from his rookie debut in 2024.
Getting his arm all the way back has not been easy, and Thursday only adds to the concern about his workload.
He would be the fourth Cincinnati starter to go down this season.
Hunter Greene has been out since before the year with bone chips in his right elbow.
Nick Lodolo missed the first five-plus weeks with a finger blister, though he is set to return Friday.
Brandon Williamson is on the shelf with left shoulder fatigue.
The timing is brutal for a team that has lost seven straight and watched a promising start to the year slip away on a rough road trip.