CHICAGO -- It was already a rough -- and winless -- seven-game road trip for the Reds, and it somehow only got worse during Thursday's 8-3 loss to the Cubs at Wrigley Field when starting pitcher Rhett Lowder exited early with right shoulder discomfort.
Lowder, 24, will undergo tests on Friday morning in Cincinnati. As the Reds trailed, 1-0, the right-hander issued back-to-back walks on a combined nine pitches to open the bottom of the fourth inning.
“When I went out for the mound visit, just kind of saw him shaking his arm some, and he told me what he was feeling," catcher Tyler Stephenson said. "I kind of looked over to the dugout, and obviously I know he doesn’t want to come out of the game."
Manager Terry Francona and head trainer Sean McQueeney also visited the mound. After a brief conversation, Lowder departed the game.
“We’ll know more tomorrow," Francona said. "We’re going to get him MRI’d in the morning. I don’t think it was a terrible amount of discomfort. I think he felt some clicking up there. He was having trouble getting into a spot. I get it. You’re asking somebody to throw the ball mid-90s and get Major League hitters out. And if you don’t feel like you can get into a slot, that’s why I didn’t leave him in. He wanted to stay in. I don’t think that’s right.”
Although there was no obvious indication Lowder had discomfort lately, he acknowledged that he had been dealing with something.
“I’ve just kind of been grinding through some stuff, but we’ll find out more tomorrow and go from there," said Lowder, who gave up a two-out solo home run to Michael Conforto in the second for the only hit against him. Over three-plus innings, he was charged with three runs with four walks and one strikeout.
Lowder had the shortest start of his career on Saturday, 1 1/3 innings with eight runs allowed in a 17-7 loss to the Pirates, and he is 3-3 with 5.40 ERA in eight starts. He missed all of 2025 with elbow and oblique injuries.
It's another hit the rotation can't afford, as Lowder is the fourth Reds starter to deal with an injury this season. Hunter Greene (bone chips in right elbow), Nick Lodolo (left index finger blister) and Brandon Williamson (left shoulder fatigue) are all on the injured list. Lodolo is scheduled to return Friday and make his 2026 debut after being out since March 22.
The game got away from the Reds once Connor Phillips took over for Lowder. He gave up four hits, five runs and a walk in what became a seven-run fourth inning for the Cubs. It included a bases-loaded gaffe by Stephenson. On Dansby Swanson's grounder, Stephenson did not see Ke'Bryan Hayes touch third base for the force play before throwing home and did not tag the runner, Ian Happ, before he scored.
“I kind of got the back end of it, and that’s just a mistake on my end knowing that I have to tag him in that situation and [it’s] a fast-developing play," Stephenson said.
It was just that kind of 0-7 road trip, the first winless two-city journey the Reds had since enduring two during their 2022 rebuilding season.
These are some of the other things that happened:
- Four-straight one-run losses, which included a 1-0 defeat Sunday to the Pirates followed by three walk-offs in a row in Chicago
- Catcher Jose Trevino pitched three innings combined over back-to-back blowout losses Friday and Saturday vs. Pittsburgh
- On Saturday, Lowder and Phillips combined to issue seven consecutive walks in the second inning, tying a Major League record only done twice previously, the last time nearly 43 years ago
- Emilio Pagán, who gave up Michael Conforto's walk-off homer on Monday, threw one pitch Tuesday and strained his left hamstring, sidelining him for four to eight weeks
- On Wednesday, the Reds scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning to take a 6-4 lead -- only to lose, 7-6, in 10 innings
Now losers of eight of their last nine games, the Reds (20-18) have dropped all the way from first place to last place in the National League Central. They trail the first-place Cubs by six games. They are also an MLB-worst 1-9 against division rivals, but have only played against Chicago and Pittsburgh so far.
The best thing about this trip? It's over. The Reds return home for a seven-day, six-game homestand that begins Friday vs. the Astros.
"I’m actually glad we play tomorrow," Francona said. "I’d hate to go sit at home for a whole day and pout, so I’m glad we’re playing.”