The Cincinnati Reds have called up right-handed reliever Zach Maxwell. The move comes prior to the afternoon game against the Colorado Rockies. He will be taking the place on the roster of Brandon Williamson, who exited last night’s start with an injury after the 3rd inning and is now on the 15-day injured list with what they are calling shoulder fatigue.
This series of moves is likely short term, at least for Maxwell. Cincinnati is going to need someone to step into the rotation for Williamson this next time around and it’s not going to be Maxwell, who has always been a reliever. But for now this move gives the Reds more options when it comes to relievers and it’s something that they may need over the next few days as they try to make up for using plenty of relief innings in last night’s loss to the Rockies.
Maxwell, who made his big league debut last year with Cincinnati, has spent his 2026 season in Triple-A with the Louisville Bats. He’s pitched in 12 games and has a 5.91 ERA in his 10.2 innings. He’s allowed 12 hits this season, with one of those being a home run. Maxwell has also walked eight batters. Where he has had success, though, is striking batters out. The righty has struck out 17 of the 51 hitters he’s faced this season. That’s a 33% strikeout rate.
Since the middle of April he’s pitched much better than he did in the first two weeks of the season. After giving up three runs and walking two batters in 0.2 innings on April 12th he’s given up just one run on three hits and two walks in his last five outings where he’s covered one inning in each game and he’s struck out 10 of the 20 batters in those games.
The Louisville Bats are playing in Omaha this week, so it’s possible that Maxwell may not be in Cincinnati just yet as he likely didn’t even find out he was getting the call until late last night and then had to find a flight to Ohio.
Hopefully he won’t have to pitch because it will either mean we are losing big or Abbott didn’t make it out of the 3rd.
Mey and Maxwell have the potential to drive Dennis to distraction.
Zach Maxwell, Luis Mey and Jose Franco are probably not the guys that the Reds would really like to call up, but they are on the 40 man.
So at some point, they probably want one of Lyon Richardson, Tejay Antone, Trevor Kuncl or Yunior Marte on the 40 man. Somethings gotta give on the 40 man.
If Nick Lodolo is not ready to take the turn on Monday, then maybe
1) Bullpen game
2) Call up Chase Petty (any word if he got hurt last night viz his early removal from the game?)
Not totally surprised about the shoulder fatigue for Williamson, because he hasn’t pitched regularly in two years (!), but I wonder now where he goes? The 60 day disabled list, because if he has shoulder fatigue, they can’t just send him to AAA to pitch. He just has to rest for a while.
60 day DL also opens up a spot on the 40 man, doesn’t it?
“Shoulder fatigue” has often been used as a temporary code word for something more serious. I would not be surprised if he is moved to the 60 day IR.
Meh, I think it’s a code for “not pitching well” though just sending him down would have created other issues.
Per Francona via Charlie Goldsmith, Williamson’s shoulder is structurally good.
https://x.com/CharlieG__/status/2049859142584594587
Hey is it supposed to rain today? Let’s hope so; day game and unreliable, disappointing Abbott on the mound, doesn’t look good. I’m pretty sure MLB has already called it a final. Losing 2 of 3 to the Rox, how embarrassing. On the bright side, maybe Elly will get a couple of innings on the hill today.
You’re always a ray of sunshine, aren’t you, Brett?
Why even comment or follow the reds? As your post bring nothing other than “trolling”
Brett – Your post didn’t age very well, did it? Glad they actually play the games. Go Reds!
Brett, um yeah, did not quite work out the way you predicted.
A Sal Stewart 3b sighting with Steer at 1b and corner OF Benson/Bleday.
this would be a good game to win. Let’s see if they play like it
I expected Williamson to a. get moved to bullpen when Lodolo came up, or b. sent to minors then. His performance has been sliding the past few appearances and his innings do need to be watched this year. I hadn’t considered IL but that makes sense.
I wonder if the ABS system is effecting the finesse pitchers more than the flame throwers.
We have solid starting pitching depth. Unfortunately, we have exceeded the amount of depth we have. Despite all of Krall’s missteps, it appears as if he got this one right in not trading Greene for somebody like Buxton. I have no clue what we do now. Petty is not ready. Mey and Maxwell are not answers. Think I would consider pitching Lodolo in Pittsburgh tomorrow night. 5 good innings would be fine.
Good thing huh we didn’t give this 6 man rotation serious consideration. With all these 4-5 inning starts, our bullpen would have been totally burnt up.
“Despite all of Krall’s missteps”
Lowe
Geno
Bleday
Myers
Johnson
Burke
Give me some Krall!
I agree, Krall did well this offseason, put us in pretty good shape.