GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The battle for the Cincinnati Reds’ fifth starting pitcher spot intensified Saturday as Chase Burns and Rhett Lowder each delivered encouraging performances against the Cleveland Guardians, striking out Guardians superstar José Ramírez. While it was only the Cactus League opener, the outings offered a glimpse into the Reds’ strategy of building a competitive rotation through player development.
Burns pitched two scoreless innings, showcasing improved velocity and a refined changeup, while Lowder allowed just one run in two innings of function. Both pitchers were able to overpower Ramírez, a five-time recipient of the MLBPAA Heart and Hustle Award, with key strikeouts.
“We grasp that for us to compete and be competitive, we’re going to have to develop a lot of our pitching,” said Guardians manager Terry Francona. “That’s just the way it is. That’s ok. I actually kind of like it because there are fewer surprises. The more successful you can be developing, the better you’ll be organizationally.”
The Reds’ rotation, largely constructed through the draft and a trade for Brady Singer, ranked fifth in MLB in WAR in 2025. The team is hoping to build on that success in 2026, with Burns and Lowder vying for the final rotation spot alongside Hunter Greene, Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo, and Singer.
“It’s special,” said pitcher Andrew Abbott. “You can’t take that for granted. A lot of teams don’t have that. We know those guys can compete with the best of the best. It’s an amazing feeling to know they’re in reserve at the moment.”
Burns, making his spring debut, admitted to some initial jitters but settled in to demonstrate his potential. He focused on utilizing his changeup, a pitch he prioritized developing after his first year of professional baseball. He successfully induced a weak flyout from Guardians All-Star Steven Kwan with the pitch.
“To work on that pitch and obtain a good hitter like that out, I know they’ll be good for me,” Burns said.
Francona noted that he prefers facing established veterans working on their game during spring training, but acknowledged the challenge presented by a young pitcher with elite stuff. Burns’ command, while typical for February, and his breaking ball were also on display.
Lowder, returning from a 2025 season sidelined by elbow and oblique injuries, impressed Francona with his veteran approach. “He pitches like a veteran,” Francona said. “He had good stuff. He locates. He had good movement. In an era where there’s a lot of grip and rip, he’s a pitcher.”
Lowder punctuated his outing with a strikeout of Ramírez, letting out a yell after the pitch. He reported success spotting his four-seam fastball and executing pitches effectively.
“I threw the kitchen sink at him,” Lowder said. “I backed him up with the heater up and in so I knew something moving away from him was there. I definitely had to execute some good pitches.”
Singer, entering the final year of his contract, emphasized the importance of depth in the Reds’ starting rotation. “A huge part of this team and the success we’re going to have is based on the depth of the starting pitching,” he said. “It’ll be really helpful for us. They’re unbelievable arms. It’s really cool to watch these guys. Young talent. It’ll be really good for the Reds for years to arrive. They’ll have a really good rotation for a long time.”
Burns and Lowder are also competing with Brandon Williamson and Julian Aguiar for the fifth starter role. Williamson is scheduled to make his spring training debut soon, and the competition will continue throughout the spring. Francona indicated that injuries, a common occurrence during spring training, could also influence the final decision.
“What I pay attention to is how they’re pitching,” Francona said. “We’ll figure out where it fits. If a guy gets hurt or is backed up a couple of weeks, you’ve got two (open spots). You pay attention to how they’re doing. You keep that as you’re going, and then you make your decisions.”
