How will the Reds' rotation look amid Greene's injury?
The Cincinnati Reds are expected to be without Hunter Greene until July because of an elbow injury. Greene, 26, has been one of the better pitchers in baseball over the past couple of seasons. He was an All-Star who finished eighth in National League Cy Young voting in 2024. Greene was limited to 19 starts in 2025, but he still found success while on the mound. It goes without saying, but replacing him in the starting rotation for half of the season will be a difficult task.
The good news is that Cincinnati's pitching depth is a strength. Terry Francona has plenty of options to choose from. It was already announced that Andrew Abbott will start Opening Day amid Greene's injury. Meanwhile, Nick Lodolo and Brady Singer -- who were likely going to be the No. 3 and No. 4 starters in the rotation -- will handle No. 2 and No. 3 starter duties.
The Reds previously had to make a decision for their No. 5 starter. Now, Cincinnati is facing No. 4 and No. 5 rotation decisions.
Which Pitchers Will Join Reds' Rotation?
Chase Burns, Rhett Lowder and Brandon Williamson are the three front-runners for the two spots. Of course, they were initially competing for only one rotation spot. Now, there is a realistic chance that two of them will begin the season in Cincinnati with the Reds.
Burns, a 23-year-old, seems to have the best opportunity of earning a spot. He already has big league experience -- making 13 appearances in 2025 -- and he was the team's top prospect last year.
Lowder, 24, is also a highly regarded prospect. He has six total games of MLB experience. Similarly to Burns, Lower is a guy with an opportunity to be a star someday.
Williamson, a 27-year-old southpaw, also has a fairly high ceiling but he is returning from injury. The Reds may be especially cautious with him. Nevertheless, he is still in the 2026 starting rotation conversation. He could earn a promotion at some point even if he does not make the Opening Day roster.
The Reds have decisions to make. Their pitching is their biggest strength. Greene's injury absence is going to hurt their chances of seriously competing, but the rotation is still deep enough to help the ball club stay in contention. If the offense can upset expectations and make some noise, then perhaps the Reds will find a way to stay afloat until Greene returns during the summer.