Reds need Rhett Lowder to fix one glaring problem this offseason

The Cincinnati Reds face significant rotation gaps heading into the offseason with Hunter Greene sidelined for 2027 and Brady Singer entering free agency, leaving only Chase Burns, Andrew Abbott, and Nick Lodolo as established starters. Rhett Lowder is expected to fill a rotation spot, but recent performances against the Dodgers and Brewers have exposed a critical weakness: he ranks in the bottom 10% of the league with an 18.6% whiff rate and generates chase rates of just 26.9%. Lowder's sinker is functional but his secondary pitches, particularly his slider and changeup, are underperforming, though his slider shows promise with a 31.7% whiff rate when effective. The article suggests that improving his slider's consistency could be key to Lowder becoming a viable rotation option for Cincinnati.

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