The Cincinnati Reds had some good news to share on Sunday afternoon. Manager Terry Francona told the media in Arizona prior to the game with the Diamondbacks that Chase Burns and Rhett Lowder were both scheduled to throw bullpen sessions on Tuesday. Charlie Goldsmith of Fox19 also reported that for Lowder, who hasn’t pitched in the big leagues this season after suffering an elbow injury over the winter and then an oblique injury while rehabbing in the minor leagues, could potentially return in the 2025 season.
For Chase Burns, he last pitched for Cincinnati 16 day ago in Pittsburgh when he struck out 10 batters. Unlike Lowder, he hasn’t missed much time and the expectation has been that he would return this season, and possibly rather soon. The bigger question has been more about what role he would return to, as his innings have added up this season and the organization wants to avoid shutting him down and had talked about possibly moving him into a relief role towards the end of the season to still have him on the mound but limit how much he was pitching.
While missing a few weeks with the injury is never good, it did save a few innings from what would be his season total. If he gets back to the mound this year that could buy the Reds another start or two if they wanted to play it that way. Of course they could just push Burns right to the bullpen when he gets back to provide some strength there.
With Rhett Lowder things are a bit more complicated. With just 2025 in mind, do they bother with trying to build him up as a starter knowing that they aren’t likely going to be able to do so in order to get him ready to make big league starts before the season ends? Or do they try to just get him ready to potentially pitch in the big leagues in a relief role in September and maybe the playoffs where he can provide a few innings every couple of days if he is able to get ready in time?
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