The Cincinnati Reds’ pitching depth stands to get deeper, but its series opener against the Colorado Rockies underscored that the starting point for the club’s pitching in 2026 was still plenty deep.
Chase Burns plowed through six innings, striking out nine in the April 28 game against the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park. The third out of the top of the first inning marked 100 career strikeouts for Burns, making him the fastest Reds pitcher to reach the century mark.
Burns exited the game with Cincinnati leading, 4-2. Cincinnati went on to win 7-2, improving to 19-10 this season and remaining atop the National League Central division.
Burns’ record improved to 3-1. Reds starters are a combined 10-7 this season.
Cincinnati’s bullpen took down the last three innings in scoreless fashion, improving upon their collective 2.91 ERA, which was already the second-best bullpen ERA in the majors. With the score still 4-2, Graham Ashcraft worked through traffic to record a scoreless seventh inning and Tony Santillan also worked around baserunners to blank the Rockies in the eighth.
Then, with Emilio Pagán warming in the bullpen for a would-be save situation, Cincinnati’s offense blew the game open. Brock Burke was then chosen to record the final three outs, which he did after allowing a leadoff single.
Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo progressing from injury
The strength of Reds pitching had much to do with the club’s 19-10 start, and powerful reinforcements are coming in the form of staff ace Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo. Francona discussed the progress of both from their respective injury issues prior to the series opener against the Rockies.
Pitching April 26 for the Reds’ High-A affiliate in Dayton, Lodolo (left index finger blister) went five innings on a day when he was scheduled to pitch four. He tossed 39 strikes on 51 pitches, allowing just two hits with no walks and seven strikeouts. Francona said on April 28 that Lodolo included eight breaking balls in his 51 pitches, which was promising because his grip on those pitches can agitate the blister.
The Reds would then reassess Lodolo’s status following his outing in Omaha, Francona said.
“The boys are playing great, you know?” Lodolo said. “Definitely, when we’re winning games and you’re not a part of it, definitely makes it a lot, I don’t want to say easier, but it definitely helps to watch us do what we’re doing. Just happy that we are in a good spot. I’m excited to get back. In spring training, I never would have guessed it would take this long, you know? I thought in my first rehab start, I was good. I got to my 40th pitch and thought I was good. I was like, ‘man, this is great. Five days from now, I’m gonna be starting in Miami.’
“It’s unfortunate but it’s the spot I’m in, so the timing of the injury kind of sucks, too, because it put me in a spot where I had to completely rebuild whereas last year (in August on the injured list), I didn’t have to do that. I took my 15 days and jumped right back in line. So, it’s definitely taken longer from the standpoint that I’ve had to build up like spring training in a way.”
Greene is still projected for a return around or after the mid-July All-Star break. For now, he’s still working out of the club’s Goodyear, Arizona, Player Development Complex, and on April 28 was throwing from about 110 feet, Francona said.
Greene was roughly three weeks from his first bullpen session, Francona said. It was still to be determined when Greene would rejoin the Reds in Cincinnati to continue his return from spring surgery on his throwing elbow.
“For sure, once he starts to throw hiss bullpens, we’d definitely like to get him here. We’re kind of working through that now,” Francona said. “It’s nice to have guys around. It really is, and it’s probably good for him. Same time, he can get one-on-one… The hands-on treatment they get there is so good that we’ll probably encourage him to stay there a little bit. At least until his bullpens.”
Elly De La Cruz aids Chase Burns, Reds’ bullpen with four RBI’s
Against the Rockies, Elly De La Cruz provided all the offense Burns and the bullpen would need. He had two RBI singles through three innings and then lined a two-run homer to left field in a three-run eighth inning.
De La Cruz’s first-inning pop-up found the grass in between three Rockies fielders to plate Dane Myers for a 1-0 lead. De La Cruz would then score later in the inning when Spencer Steer clapped a no-doubt homer to the seats in right field.
Cincinnati’s next burst of offensive after De La Cruz lined a single up the middle in the third inning was the All-Star shortstop’s 10th homer of 2026.
Nathaniel Lowe capped the scoring with an RBI single to play Sal Stewart, who reached on a ground-rule double.
Reds go for fifth straight series win
A victory April 29 would make five consecutive series wins for Cincinnati, and it will send out lefty starter Brandon Williamson (2-2, 5.40 ERA) to accomplish the feat. Williamson is scheduled to be opposed by right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano (2-1, 3.42 ERA).
The game at Great American Ball Park is scheduled for a 6:40 p.m. first pitch.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: With Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo progressing, Reds still deep on pitching
Reporting by Pat Brennan, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
