Brandon Williamson is closing in on a possible return, and the Reds now have a decision to make after his latest rehab outing.
The left-hander worked his sixth rehab start on Saturday afternoon and looked sharper in the run-prevention department, allowing one run on two hits across four innings while striking out five. The issue that keeps hanging over him is still the same one: control. Williamson also walked four.
That performance continued a encouraging stretch. Over his last three starts, he has allowed just two earned runs in 9 2/3 innings. If the Reds decide he’s ready, they have a few ways to handle him.
One path is to keep him at Triple-A Louisville and wait for a need to open up. That would give Cincinnati more pitching depth in reserve.
Another possibility ties directly to Chase Burns, whose innings total is still a question as the season winds down. The Reds have not said how many more starts Burns will make, and with Cincinnati out of contention, a shutdown would not be a surprise.
If that happens, Williamson would be the natural choice to slide into the rotation.
There’s also the bullpen route. Williamson could be brought back and used in a multi-inning relief role, something similar to what Nick Martinez has handled over the past couple of seasons.
Before Saturday’s game in Phoenix, Reds manager Terry Francona said the club expects to sort out Williamson’s next step in the coming days, according to MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon.
Elsewhere, JJ Bleday delivered a night to remember, hitting for the cycle in his first four at-bats on Saturday night. The homer that completed the cycle came off former Reds pitcher Zack Littell in the sixth inning.
Afterward, Bleday admitted the moment was on his mind.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't," Bleday said. "Every time I went out to go play defense, I was kind of visualizing 'what if, what if,' and how I would celebrate. And next thing you know, I was able to hit that home run to get it done."
Bleday has been one of the few bright spots in an otherwise disappointing season for the Reds.
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Terry Francona said there is some optimism around Toglias recovery, though the next round of testing will help determine how soon he can move forward. For a Reds team trying to keep its lineup intact down the stretch, any absence in the middle of the order or on the bench can complicate the day-to-day mix, and this one now leaves Cincinnati waiting on a clearer timetable. [Read more 🡒]