The postseason spotlight on Wednesday isn’t just about the National League and American League Division Series. For the Reds, it also offers a look at two former pitchers who could fit right back into Cincinnati’s plans once free agency opens.
Tyler Mahle is set to start for the Atlanta Braves in a Game 4 that they have to have against the Los Angeles Dodgers at 6 p.m. ET.
Later, former Reds swingman Nick Martinez will take the mound for the Tampa Bay Rays as they try to sweep the New York Yankees out of the playoffs. Game 3 of that ALDS matchup starts at 8 p.m.
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Both pitchers arrive with plenty to show. Mahle was Atlanta’s biggest addition at the trade deadline, while Martinez earned an All-Star nod in his first year with Tampa Bay. And both are headed for free agency after the postseason ends.
That matters in Cincinnati. The Reds need more pitching, and these two names make plenty of sense as offseason targets. Brady Singer is also on track to hit the market this winter, and Hunter Greene won’t be available in 2027 while he works his way back from Tommy John surgery.
That leaves the Reds staring at a rotation with a lot of uncertainty. Chase Burns is clearly lined up to be the ace in 2027, but after him, the picture gets messy.
Nick Lodolo spent 2026 on the injured list twice and turned in the roughest season of his career. In 21 starts, the left-hander posted a 4.97 ERA, a 5.70 FIP and struck out only 17% of the batters he faced.
Andrew Abbott also took a step back after his All-Star season in 2025. He made 32 starts and logged 166 innings, but he walked 4.12 batters per nine innings - nearly two full walks more than the year before. His 4.61 ERA and 18% strikeout rate were underwhelming, too.
Rhett Lowder didn’t have much better luck in his first full big-league season. Like Lodolo and Abbott, he struggled to miss bats with a 17.1% strikeout rate, and his 5.74 ERA and 4.71 FIP left the Reds with more questions than answers.
That’s why a veteran arm matters. Mahle was sharp for the Braves down the stretch, finishing with a 1.99 ERA and 3.59 FIP, while Martinez, now 36, produced the best numbers of his career with Tampa Bay.
There’s another wrinkle that helps Cincinnati’s case. Mahle was traded during the season, and Martinez received a qualifying offer from the Reds in 2024, so neither would come with draft compensation attached this winter. For a team trying to rebuild its rotation around Burns, both pitchers should be high on the front office’s list.
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The trade route may be where the Reds can actually make a meaningful upgrade, especially if clubs with infield depth decide to reshuffle their plans. Names such as Isaac Paredes and Brett Baty fit into that broader search, and recent organizational changes with the Astros and Mets could open doors that were not there before. For a team trying to build around pitching and run prevention without leaving too much offense on the table, third base has become one of the more important puzzles to solve. [Read more 🡒]