Reds FeedRhett Lowder
P · Age 24 · Bats Right · Throws Right
Where things stand
Rhett Lowder delivered a dominant six-inning shutout performance against the Toronto Blue Jays, allowing just three hits and two walks on 79 pitches in a 5-1 Cincinnati victory. The strong outing represents a significant turnaround for Lowder, who had struggled earlier in September after returning from injury in 2026. The Reds organization is now evaluating whether Lowder can serve as a cornerstone of their rotation going forward, though the team faces broader pitching staff concerns that may require external coaching hires and additional starting pitcher acquisitions this offseason.
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Rhett Lowder coverage
CRITICAL: Cincinnati Reds MUST Get the Pitching this Offseason
The Cincinnati Reds face a critical offseason need to upgrade their pitching staff, with concerns about the rotation's performance and questions surrounding Nick Lodolo, Rhett Lowder, and Andrew Abbott. The hosts discuss potential free agent targets like Tarik Skubal, Sonny Gray, and Michael Soroka, while also evaluating position player gaps at catcher, second base, and outfield that need addressing. The episode examines whether general manager Nick Krall will pursue aggressive moves through trades and free agency or settle for budget-friendly options that could limit the team's competitive window.
Locked On RedsOVERHAUL: Cincinnati Reds Must HIRE External Pitching Coach After Derek Johnson's Departure
The Reds need to hire an external pitching coach to replace Derek Johnson and address the team's ongoing struggles with command and walk rates among their young rotation of Chase Burns, Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo, Rhett Lowder, and Brandon Williamson. The hosts argue that internal candidates like Matt Tracy and Oscar Marin are insufficient and that the organization must also prioritize strengthening its minor league pitching development to restore Cincinnati's reputation as a pitching factory. They discuss what went wrong in 2026 and what qualifications an outside hire must have to unlock the potential of this talented but underperforming staff.
Locked On RedsA Cincinnati Reds offseason plan worth trying
The Cincinnati Reds need significant roster changes to compete in 2027, starting with signing multiple established hitters like Jazz Chisholm Jr., Ian Happ, and Randy Arozarena to replace underperforming players. The author recommends keeping Eugenio Suarez at third base and extending catcher Tyler Stephenson while building around shortstop Elly De La Cruz and first baseman Sal Stewart. On the pitching side, the team must address the coaching staff and add starting pitchers to support a rotation of Chase Burns, Andrew Abbott, Rhett Lowder, Nick Lodolo, and Brandon Williamson. The proposed lineup would feature average-to-above-average offensive production throughout, a significant improvement over 2026 when multiple everyday players posted extremely low offensive numbers.
Redleg NationREDS POSTCAST: Rhett Lowder IMPRESSES as Cincinnati Reds DEFEAT Blue Jays, JJ Bleday Goes Deep
The Cincinnati Reds defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 5-1 behind a dominant six-inning shutout from pitcher Rhett Lowder, who delivered an impressive performance that could position him as a cornerstone of the rotation going forward. J.J. Bleday contributed offensively with his 24th home run, while Hector Rodriguez drove in two runs with a triple that helped put the game out of reach. The episode also examines the bullpen contributions, Rodriguez's defensive improvements, and what the Reds' late-season momentum could mean for building a playoff contender in 2025.
Locked On RedsLowder puts bow on first full season with quality start
MLB.com RedsRhett Lowder dominates as the Reds beat the Blue Jays 5-1
Rhett Lowder pitched six shutout innings on just 79 pitches as the Cincinnati Reds defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 5-1 on Saturday. The Reds built their lead through a combination of timely hitting and Blue Jays errors, with Hector Rodriguez delivering a crucial two-run triple in the fifth inning. Lowder improved to 7-12 while allowing just three hits and walking two batters in what was his strongest performance of September after struggling earlier in the month.
Redleg NationCincinnati Reds vs. Toronto Blue Jays – Rhett Lowder vs. Trey Yesavage
The Cincinnati Reds face the Toronto Blue Jays with two games remaining in their season after Elly De La Cruz achieved his 30-30 milestone in Friday's loss. Rhett Lowder will start for Cincinnati against Blue Jays rookie Trey Yesavage, who has had a stronger 2026 season than the struggling Lowder. Carlos Jorge leads off for the Reds, with Juan Brito at third base. First pitch is scheduled for 3:07 PM ET.
Red ReporterCincinnati Reds vs Toronto Blue Jays – September 26, 2026
Elly De La Cruz achieved 30-30 club status last night when he stole his 30th base, but the Reds bullpen surrendered a late lead and lost to the Blue Jays in the series opener. Today's matchup features Reds starter Rhett Lowder, who is returning from missing all of 2025 and has struggled this season with a 6.01 ERA, against Blue Jays rookie Trey Yesavage, who posted a 3.67 ERA in 19 starts but is just returning from a seven-week knee injury. First pitch is scheduled for 3:07pm ET at Rogers Centre.
Redleg NationCincinnati Reds vs Toronto Bue Jays – September 26, 2026
Elly De La Cruz achieved 30-30 club status for the Cincinnati Reds in last night's game, but the team's bullpen surrendered a late lead as Toronto won the series opener. The Reds face the Blue Jays this afternoon at 3:07pm ET with Rhett Lowder starting for Cincinnati and Trey Yesavage for Toronto. Lowder has struggled since returning from injury in 2026, allowing 21 earned runs over 15.1 September innings, while Yesavage is making just his second appearance since recovering from a seven-week knee injury.
Redleg NationCincinnati Reds pummeled by the Cubs in the 2026 home finale
The Chicago Cubs dominated the Cincinnati Reds 9-1 in Cincinnati's final home game of 2026, with the Cubs building an insurmountable lead through a four-run third inning. Pete Crow-Armstrong hit his 45th home run of the season and Pedro Ramirez drove in multiple runs as Chicago's offense overwhelmed Reds pitcher Rhett Lowder. The Reds managed only four hits in the loss, with JJ Bleday accounting for their lone run on a solo home run in the fourth inning. The Cubs improved to 87-69 while Cincinnati fell to 72-84.
Redleg NationChicago Cubs vs Cincinnati Reds – September 20, 2026
The Cubs and Reds have split their first two games of this series, with Chicago needing a win today plus an Arizona loss to clinch a playoff spot. Cincinnati will try to prevent another team from celebrating a postseason berth on their field after the Dodgers clinched the division there earlier this week. Cubs starter Rhett Lowder has struggled in September, allowing 16 earned runs over 12.1 innings in three starts, while Reds pitcher David Peterson has performed significantly better with Chicago than he did with the Mets earlier this season. First pitch is scheduled for 1:40pm ET at Great American Ball Park.
Redleg NationBaseball America's dismal assessment of Reds farm system has key silver lining
The Cincinnati Reds' farm system ranks 28th out of 30 teams according to Baseball America, largely because the organization has successfully promoted talented players like first baseman Sal Stewart, ace Chase Burns, and pitcher Rhett Lowder to the majors. The silver lining is that eight of the team's top 10 prospects are still in High-A or lower, meaning many young players like 2026 first-round pick Justin Lebron and 2025 first-round pick Steele Hall have significant room for improvement and could see their rankings rise substantially. However, this youth-heavy pipeline creates a vulnerability for the 2027 Reds, particularly in pitching depth at the upper minor league levels.
Blog Red MachineReds farm system gets the lowest grade in baseball for 2026
Baseball America assigned the Cincinnati Reds farm system a D grade for 2026, the lowest mark given to any team alongside the San Diego Padres and Philadelphia Phillies. The Reds' prospect pool deteriorated significantly after several players graduated to the majors, including Chase Burns, Sal Stewart, Rhett Lowder, Edwin Arroyo, and Chase Petty, with most struggling at the big league level. Alfredo Duno and Carter Graham stand out as bright spots, but the system lacks depth in pitching and has few proven prospects in Double-A and Triple-A, leaving the organization years away from meaningful contributions to a struggling major league team.
Redleg NationREDS POSTCAST: The Cincinnati Reds Collapse as Dodgers DOMINATE, Elly De La Cruz Fights
The Cincinnati Reds were shut out 4-0 by the Los Angeles Dodgers, struggling offensively against Yoshinobu Yamamoto while the team's defense recorded four double plays. Host Tim Daniel examines the Reds' inability to compete with elite teams, highlighting Elly De La Cruz's continued strong play and Rhett Lowder's performance, while questioning whether deeper organizational issues will prevent the team from maximizing De La Cruz's time in Cincinnati.
Locked On RedsCincinnati Reds vs. Los Angeles Dodgers – Rhett Lowder vs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Elly De La Cruz hit a 457-foot home run in Monday's game, but the Cincinnati Reds still lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-1, with his solo shot being the team's only run. The loss eliminated the Reds from playoff contention and dropped them to 70-80, 10 games below .500. Tonight, Reds pitcher Rhett Lowder will face Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto, with first pitch scheduled for 6:40 PM ET at Great American Ball Park.
Red ReporterLos Angeles Dodgers vs Cincinnati Reds – September 15, 2026
The Dodgers defeated the Reds 4-1 on Monday night, with Elly De La Cruz hitting a solo home run in the ninth inning for Cincinnati's only run. The teams continue their four-game series Tuesday at 6:40pm ET at Great American Ball Park, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto starting for Los Angeles against Rhett Lowder for Cincinnati. Yamamoto has been dominant this season with a 2.62 ERA across 172 innings, while Lowder has struggled recently, allowing 13 earned runs over his last 7.1 innings pitched.
Redleg NationReds 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.
Blog Red MachineReds' farm system raises a huge red flag for the 2027 season
Cincinnati's farm system ranking dropped from 12th to 23rd between the preseason and August, partly because prospects like Sal Stewart and Edwin Arroyo graduated to the majors. The more significant concern is the system's composition: four of the top 10 prospects are shortstops, and nine of the top 10 are position players, leaving only 19-year-old Aaron Watson as a promising pitching prospect. With Hunter Greene out for all of 2027 following his second Tommy John surgery and Brady Singer becoming a free agent, the Reds lack depth behind ace Chase Burns and will struggle to fill rotation spots beyond their top three starters. Prospects like Rhett Lowder, Chase Petty, and Julian Aguiar carry question marks and are better suited as back-of-the-rotation options rather than reliable No. 4 or 5 starters.
Blog Red MachineOne bizarre Reds stat further emphasizes frustrating Hunter Greene reality
Hunter Greene's 2026 season was derailed by two separate elbow injuries that limited him to just 27⅔ innings pitched with a 6.83 ERA. He underwent surgery in spring training for bone spurs and loose bodies, returned in July with a strong performance against the Cubs, but then suffered a torn UCL that required Tommy John surgery and will keep him sidelined through 2027. The stat highlighting his struggles: backup catcher Jose Trevino appeared as a pitcher six times this season, more than Greene made total starts. Cincinnati's pitching rotation was further weakened by injuries to Nick Lodolo, Brandon Williamson, and Rhett Lowder, leaving the team to rely on depth arms like Kent Emanuel and Chris Paddack.
Blog Red MachineReds lose in embarrassing fashion, get swept by the Dodgers
The Dodgers completed a sweep of the Reds with a 14-1 victory, with Los Angeles scoring six runs in the fourth inning to put the game out of reach. Reds starter Rhett Lowder struggled in the fourth, giving up three doubles and a walk while recording just one out before being replaced. Elly De La Cruz hit his 26th home run of the season to extend his hitting streak to five consecutive games with a homer, the second-longest such streak in Reds history.
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