Cincinnati Reds: Rhett Lowder and Chase Burns are rising to the moment

Cincinnati Reds starting pitchers Chase Burns and Rhett Lowder are two of the 25 youngest pitchers in baseball, and they’re also two of the most impressive players on the Reds through three weeks this season.

The Reds suffered notable losses when Hunter Greene (elbow) and Nick Lodolo (blister) opened the season on the injured list. The front office’s plan is for pitching and defense to lead the way, and Greene and Lodolo are former first-round picks with immense potential and track records of success in the big leagues.

Fortunately for the Reds, they had two more former first-round picks in Burns and Lowder who were ready to step into prominent roles.

Along with rookie first baseman Sal Stewart, the Reds are having success while counting on the team’s youngest players in critical roles.

“(The success) is because of the staff that we have here, the development we have in the Minor Leagues, the coaches that we have,” Stewart said. “We’ve got a lot of young guys. It’s not an accident. The way we draft as an organization. The people that we get. We get a lot of hard workers. Kudos to the organization. Sometimes, the organization doesn’t get as much credit as they deserve.”

Against the Giants on Wednesday, Lowder earned the win by throwing a career-high 6 ⅔ innings and allowing three runs. His poise, command, deep pitch mix, consistency and reliability all give him the presence of a veteran.

In 10 career big league starts, he has a 2.18 ERA.

“We got a taste of what Lowder was capable of a couple of years ago when he was healthy,” catcher Tyler Stephenson said. “It’s a lot of fun to watch what he does.”

While the Reds lost, 3-0, to the Giants on Thursday in the series finale, Burns pitched six shutout innings.

“Being able to mix and match his pitches today, he had everything dialed in,” catcher PJ Higgins said. “He did a really good job mixing the ball around. The slider was special, as always. He has good stuff. When he’s spotting it up and pitching where he wants to, that’s a dangerous recipe.”