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The Reds have officially placed ailing starter Rhett Lowder on the 15-day injured list.

When the Cincinnati Reds signed Chris Paddack to a major league deal, the question was which pitcher was going to get bumped out of the rotation. The club has answered the question by deciding the next steps for injured starter Rhett Lowder.

The Reds announced on X that they’ve signed Paddack to a major league deal. To make room for the right-hander, the team placed Lowder on the 15-day injured list and designated catcher P.J. Higgins for assignment. The club designated the injury as “right shoulder pain,” with no backdate.

The announcement isn’t exactly a surprise. Reds manager Terry Francona told reporters, including Mike Petraglia of CLNS Cincy, on May 10 that a stint on the injured list was likely for Lowder.

How Rhett Lowder’s Injury Affects the Reds’ Rotation

Lowder exited his start against the Chicago Cubs on May 7 with a shoulder issue. Francona told reporters that they’ll exercise caution with the young right-hander. Lowder received an injection in the AC joint of his ailing shoulder.

It’s unclear how long he’ll be out, but May 28 will be the earliest potential return date. The longer the right-hander remains down, the longer the ramp-up period needs to be. If he’s completely shut down, then it will be more than the minimum 15 days.

The Reds are already experiencing injuries with their rotation. Left-hander Nick Lodolo’s season was delayed until May 8 with recurring blister issues in his index finger. Hunter Greene is out until at least July with an elbow injury suffered in Spring Training. Left-hander Brandon Williamson is on the 60-day injured list with a shoulder injury.

Brady Singer suffered an injury scare in the Reds’ loss to the Nationals on May 12. The right-hander was struck in the foot by a batted ball, but was clearly affected as he attempted to grit through the pain.

Francona told reporters after the game that X-rays came back negative. Singer’s rotation spot is due up in the series finale against the Cleveland Guardians on May 17, so that will be something to monitor.

The Reds will operate with a rotation of Chase Burns, Andrew Abbott, Brady Singer, Nick Lodolo, and Chris Paddack moving forward.

Reds Add Veteran Starter Chris Paddack to Rotation Beset by Injuries

With the injuries mounting in the rotation, the Reds opted to sign Paddack to a major league deal. The right-hander’s last start came on May 3 against the Philadelphia Phillies, before the Miami Marlins released him. In seven appearances, six starts, Paddack went 0-5 with a 7.63 ERA in 30.2 innings.

The move may have also come in response to another injury affecting the Reds’ rotation depth. Chase Petty, one of the organization’s top pitching prospects, developed a blister issue in his start with Triple-A Louisville on May 10. He left that start in the fourth inning at just 79 pitches.

With uncertainty as to when Petty could start again, the Reds chose to sign a veteran off the street who isn’t too far removed from his last start. Cincinnati is hoping the 30-year-old starter can give them some reliable innings while they wait for their rotation to get healthier.

Francona told reporters, including Charlie Clifford of NBC 5 Cincinnati, that they will start Abbott and Paddack in the first two games of the Guardians series.