TORONTO -- Considering that he debuted for the Reds with six starts in 2024, people forget that Rhett Lowder still had rookie status in 2026. Manager Terry Francona has been quick to remind folks not only of that status, but that Lowder also missed all of 2025 with injuries.
This first full year was one uneven road for Lowder, pockmarked by rough starts, time on the injured list and a brief stint working out of the bullpen. But the right-hander made his final start one of his best of the season, with six scoreless innings during the Reds’ 5-1 win over the Blue Jays on Saturday at Rogers Centre.
Lowder gave up three hits and two walks and struck out two batters while throwing 79 pitches (50 strikes). He ended with a 7-12 record and 5.74 ERA in 29 games -- including 26 starts.
A strong start prevented Lowder's September from a complete downer. He entered Saturday 0-4 with a 12.33 ERA in his four previous starts, with only one of them going longer than four innings.
The way Lowder's day began portended a different outcome. He walked his first two batters on eight consecutive balls. A strikeout to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Alejandro Kirk grounding into a double play resulted in a scoreless first inning.
After Brett Bateman's one-out double in the third inning, Lowder retired 11 of his final 12 batters.
JJ Bleday gave the Reds a 1-0 lead in the second inning with his leadoff home run to right-center field against Trey Yesavage. Two more runs followed in the third inning, including a two-out RBI double by Eugenio Suárez. Another two runs crossed in the fifth on Héctor Rodríguez's triple off the wall in left field.