Rhett Lowder takes the mound, Graham Ashcraft returns as Reds face Pirates on Saturday

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ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - APRIL 20: Rhett Lowder #25 of the Cincinnati Reds looks to receive the ball against the Tampa Bay Rays during the game at Tropicana Field on April 20, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Friday night’s series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates couldn’t have gone much worse for the Cincinnati Reds. First, they sat out a lengthy rain delay in PNC Park and eventually waded into a drubbing at the hands of the Bucs in cool temperatures, their arms and bats looking as soggy as the 9-1 scoreline.

Brady Singer got rocked, again. Zach Maxwell was rudely welcomed back to the big league mound. The 2 through 5 spots in the Reds lineup combined to go 0 for 16 with nary a walk, with the entire Reds lineup mustering only a lone walk and trio of hits on the night.

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It was perhaps the ugliest loss of the year, especially given the company.

Cincinnati will look to bounce back on Saturday, however, and will do so with rookie Rhett Lowder on the bump to start. Pittsburgh will counter with righty Carmen Mlodzinski, against whom previous Reds lineups have struggled mightily.

In 8 career starts against Mlodzinski, Cincinnati batters have posted a combined .214/.267/.321 line with nary a homer. Lucky for these Reds, though, they’ve now got both Sal Stewart and Nate Lowe anchoring the middle of their lineup.

The Reds will also welcome back bullpen anchor Graham Ashcraft, who was activated off the bereavement list prior to the start of this one. Maxwell was optioned back to AAA Louisville on the other side of that ledger, with the Reds noting that he’ll now be teammates with Nick Lodolo as the latter takes his rehab tour up to the AAA level.

First pitch on Saturday is slated for a 4:05 PM ET start.

Here’s how the Reds will line up for this one:

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