CINCINNATI (WXIX) – One of the biggest stories of the 2025 MLB Postseason was how several young starting pitchers stepped onto the big stage and immediately saw their potential translate into playoff wins.
Blue Jays starting pitcher Trey Yesavage became one of the stars of the playoffs with performances like a 12 strikeout game in the World Series. New York Yankees starter Cam Schlittler struck out 12 and led his team to a playoff win over the Boston Red Sox. Milwaukee Brewers rookie Jacob Misiorowski was the hero in an NLDS win over the Chicago Cubs.
Even if you’re very inexperienced, electric young arms can make a huge difference in October.
The Cincinnati Reds have two of those types of pitchers in Chase Burns and Rhett Lowder.
The Reds pretty much know what they have at the top of their rotation with frontline starters like Hunter Greene, Andrew Abbott and Nick Lodolo as well as a veteran, durable middle of the rotation piece in Brady Singer.
Flying under the radar are two top-10 draft picks who have already shown some real flashes at the big league level. In 2026, Burns and Lowder have the ability to raise the Reds’ ceiling in a meaningful way.
Earlier in their careers, Greene and Lodolo made a big leap in year two (which was the 2023 season for them). Abbott took the next step in his second year in the big leagues by posting a more complete season.
The 2026 season will be Year 2 for Burns and Lowder, and a leap from each of them would give the Reds an elite rotation.
Burns is as talented as any young pitcher in baseball. He showed what he’s capable of in his debut last year as he overpowered the Yankees’ lineup. He pitched in the bullpen down the stretch as the Reds managed his innings, and Burns was so impactful that he became one of Terry Francona’s most trusted late-game options. In the playoffs against the Dodgers, he threw 1 ⅔ perfect innings that looked as good as the stat line would indicate.
“He struck out a million guys (last year),” Lowder said. “But just seeing him grow in each outing and form into any role they asked, that’s huge for a young guy.”
The Reds got every inning they could out of Burns last year. The Reds, just like any team would, wanted to be careful with a talented young arm in his first full year of pro ball. As a precaution, he went on the IL in August after dealing with a bit of soreness. When he returned, the Reds used Burns in the bullpen as a way to manage his innings total.
Burns’ focus in 2026 is going the distance.
“It’s about being ready with the mindset to play 162 games,” Burns said. “It’s a lot. I got to see it a bit last year. Starting out in the bigs, I hope, I want to stay healthy. Be ready for 162 games. Really using last year as getting some feet wet and really doing some damage this year to try to help the team win.”
Burns has never thrown more than 111 innings in a single season.
How does he prepare to throw 200?
“I’m still trying to figure that out,” Burns said. “I’ll learn as I go and be like a sponge taking in information from the (organization). Then, you go out there and play.”
Burns had terrific underlying metrics last season, and his 4.57 ERA doesn’t reflect how effective he was. Take out the start where he was likely tipping pitches in Boston, and he’d have a solid 3.56 ERA. He struggled a bit more toward the tail end of his starts, and another year of strength training and development should help him have more complete performances in 2026.
If the No. 2 pick in the 2024 MLB Draft takes the next step that the Reds are expecting, then he’ll be ready to pitch a must-win game.
“My expectations are huge,” Burns said. “I have a very high standard for myself. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for me and my standards. I just want to help the team win any way I can.”
Lowder, the Reds’ first-round pick in the 2023 draft, posted a 1.17 ERA in six big league starts in 2024. He was in a great position to take the next step entering spring training in 2025. But he started the year on the IL with elbow soreness. He was on track to return during the summer, but then he suffered a surprise, season-ending oblique injury during his rehab assignment.
Lowder is fully healthy now. He pitched in the Arizona Fall League last October as a way to get some innings in, and he has had a normal offseason.
“I did what I wanted this offseason and didn’t have to worry about the injury,” Lowder said. “I feel good. I’m trying to leave last year in the past. I feel confident in where my game is at. Getting back on the field is the main thing.”
During the rehab process last year, Lowder picked up on some new agility and mobility work that can help him be as strong as he can be. Every starting pitcher doesn’t really know what their routine needs to be when they start their professional career, and Lowder was able to focus last year on what he needs in that area. Now, he’s seeing analytical results that show his progress and development.
Last year, he also had plenty of time to think about how much he missed being on the mound in the big leagues.
“I’m excited to just get on the field and play baseball again,” Lowder said. “Sitting in Arizona all year last year really changed your perspective. It’s just fun to play.”
If Lowder looks anything like he did in 2024, which the Reds are expecting out of a young first-round pick with untapped upside, then he’s another difference maker in a potential postseason series.
During his initial run in the big leagues in 2024, Lowder looked like a veteran who had been at that level for a while. He has a great feel for pitching, and he has a way of making it look like he’s keeping it simple.
“That’s my game,” Lowder said. “To be the best version of myself, that’s what I’m going to have to do. Be sure of myself and be confident. I’m not a guy who goes out there and throws 100. I’m going to play my own game and do the same things I did in 2024 and like I had for my whole career.”
Pitching coach Derek Johnson saw Lowder pitch on Saturday morning, and he said that Lowder looked great.
“For me, it’s about knowing he’s healthy so he can put himself in position to make the club or provide depth for us,” Johnson said. “He does his thing. That’s the pitcher he is. It’s what we drafted. For me, it’s about him refining all of those things.”
Since Lowder just missed a full season and since he has only really pitched in one professional baseball season (2024), Johnson and the Reds’ will keep an eye on how Lowder is doing over the course of the year.
“Innings limits and things like that are always a factor,” Johnson said. “With Lowder being hurt (last year), it’s hard to even know where to start with that. With Burns, it’s a little different because he maxed his innings out (last year) and he should be full go. We’ll see where they’re at. We also have to see where they’ll at in the season.”
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