Reds starter Rhett Lowder strikes out 8 while rehabbing in Triple-A

Earlier today the Cincinnati Reds sent right-handed starting pitcher Rhett Lowder to Triple-A to join the Louisville Bats in Memphis to make a rehab start. Lowder exited his start against the Chicago Cubs on May 7th with what was being called right shoulder discomfort. He would get an MRI and structurally everything looked right but he did get a cortisone shot in there to help with what he called “clicking”. He continued to throw the ball while he was on the injured list and now he’s ready to get back out there on the mound.

The first inning for Lowder didn’t go all that well. He gave up a single to start the game and then a double that brought in a run. A 2-out single brought in another run to make it a 2-run inning for Memphis. He would strike out the final batter of the 1st and that began a run where he retired 10 of the next 11 hitters, with the only player reaching base during that stretch reaching on a groundball that went 50 feet for an infield single for Joshua Baez, who had the RBI double against Lowder in the 1st.

In the 5th inning the Redbirds would get to the Reds rehabber again. A 1-out double would lead to a run later in the inning with Joshua Baez picked up his third hit of the game against Lowder as he hit a hard grounder into the left field corner for his second double of the game. Two pitches later Lowder got a groundout to end the 5th and what would be his day after 70 pitches.

For Lowder he would throw 5.0 innings, give up three earned runs on six hits, he walked no one, and he had eight strikeouts on the night while throwing 50 strikes. The righty also got six ground outs against no fly outs. Lowder got up to 96 MPH with his fastball and had 10 swings and misses on the night, with six of those coming on the slider and two each on the 2-seamer and 4-seamer.

Reds manager noted earlier in the day back in Cincinnati in his pregame interview that if this start went well for Lowder that Chris Paddack could be available out of the bullpen. That would imply that Lowder would join the rotation the next time through. Things certainly went well tonight, and as long as he feels fine when he wakes up tomorrow, the expectation seems to be that he’ll be on the mound for the Reds within the next week.