Reds Rotation Depth Raises Questions About Innings Leader

Cincinnati's talented pitching staff has no clear workhorse heading into 2026 season.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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The Cincinnati Reds have assembled an impressive starting rotation for the 2026 MLB season, with a mix of veteran innings-eaters, rising young stars, and high-upside arms. However, the team faces questions about who will emerge as the staff's workhorse and lead the team in innings pitched, with no clear standout among the group.

Why it matters

The Reds' rotation depth is a positive, but it also creates uncertainty about how the innings will be distributed. Determining the team's innings leader is important for managing workloads, evaluating performance, and planning for the future, especially with several young pitchers in the mix.

The details

The Reds' rotation features a diverse group, including ace Hunter Greene, veteran Brady Singer, rookie flamethrower Chase Burns, and lefties Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo, and Brandon Williamson. While Greene has the best stuff, he's struggled with injuries and hasn't topped 150 innings in a season. Singer has been the team's innings leader the past four years, but may be the fifth or seventh most talented arm. Younger pitchers like Lowder, Williamson, and Burns will likely face innings limits, putting more pressure on the veterans like Singer and the durable lefties Abbott and Lodolo to eat up innings.

  • In 2025, Brady Singer led the Reds with 169.2 innings pitched.
  • Hunter Greene threw just 107.2 innings in 2025 due to injuries.
  • Andrew Abbott (166.1 IP) and Nick Lodolo (165.2 IP) set career-highs in innings in 2025.

The players

Hunter Greene

The Reds' ace, Greene has the best stuff on the team but has struggled with injuries, topping 150 innings just once in his career.

Brady Singer

A veteran innings-eater who has topped 150 innings in four straight seasons, Singer may be relied upon to take on an even bigger workload in 2026.

Chase Burns

A rookie flamethrower with Cy Young upside, Burns will likely face innings limits coming off a forearm issue in 2025.

Andrew Abbott

A durable lefty who set a career-high in innings in 2025, Abbott could emerge as a workhorse for the Reds.

Nick Lodolo

Another lefty who set a career-high in innings in 2025, Lodolo is nearing free agency and could solidify his status as a top-of-the-rotation starter.

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What they’re saying

“If the mantra is truly have your best pitchers pitch the most, then it's pretty obvious the Reds would love it if Greene ended up leading the team in IP this year. However, since he's only topped 150 IP once (at 150.1 IP in 2024) and threw just 107 IP last year, I doubt the Reds are itching to see him chase 200 IP this season from a long-term (and playoff) perspective.”

— Wick Terrell, Author (yahoo.com)

What’s next

The Reds will need to carefully manage the workloads of their young pitchers like Burns, Lowder, and Williamson to ensure they stay healthy and productive throughout the season.

The takeaway

The Reds' rotation depth is a strength, but it also creates uncertainty about who will emerge as the staff's workhorse in 2026. The team will need to balance the development of its young arms with the reliability of its veterans to determine the innings leader and set the rotation up for long-term success.