The Cincinnati Reds shared some encouraging updates on Sunday afternoon. Prior to their game against the Diamondbacks in Arizona, manager Terry Francona informed the media that pitchers Chase Burns and Rhett Lowder are both set to throw bullpen sessions on Tuesday. According to Charlie Goldsmith of Fox19, Lowder—who hasn’t appeared in the majors this season due to an elbow injury in the offseason followed by an oblique strain during his rehab—could potentially return sometime in 2025.
Chase Burns, on the other hand, last pitched for the Reds 16 days ago in Pittsburgh, where he recorded 10 strikeouts. Unlike Lowder, he hasn’t missed significant time, and the expectation is that he’ll be back this season—possibly in the near future. The main uncertainty surrounding Burns has more to do with how he’ll be used when he returns. With his innings piling up, the Reds are considering moving him into a relief role later in the season to manage his workload without shutting him down completely.
Although missing a few weeks due to injury isn’t ideal, the time off could actually help reduce his season innings total. If he returns soon, it might allow the Reds to squeeze out another start or two from him or immediately slot him into the bullpen to bolster that unit.
Lowder’s situation is a bit trickier. With an eye toward 2025, the Reds must decide whether it’s worth the effort to build him back up as a starter, especially if there’s not enough time for him to be ready for major league starts before the season wraps up. Alternatively, they could focus on getting him prepared to contribute as a reliever in September—and possibly the playoffs—if he can recover in time, offering a few innings every few days.
