Photo: Redleg Nation Staff
The Cincinnati Reds needed some good news after all that has happened in the last week and on Friday afternoon they got it. Rhett Lowder had to exit Thursday night’s game with right shoulder discomfort. Lowder wanted to remain in that game but manager Terry Francona made the decision along with the trainer to pull him after the three talked things over on the mound in the 4th inning. On Friday the right-handed pitcher had an MRI taken on his shoulder and it came back showing no structural damage.
Still, despite the clean MRI the medical staff did give Lowder an injection in his AC joint, as reported by Mike Petraglia of MLB.com. He further reported that Francona said that there has not yet been a decision on whether to send Lowder to the injured list or not and that they are going to wait and see how things go and perhaps have him throw a side session on Sunday to see how that goes and then make a decision.
While that isn’t the best possible outcome – no structural damage and not having to get an injection into his AC joint would certainly have been a better outcome – this seems like it’s pretty close to one of the best possible outcomes. If he can avoid a trip to the injured list that would be ideal, but given that they aren’t even sure if he needs one today it feels like that if he does have to make one that it would likely be a short one.
Caleb Ferguson gets closer to returning
After taking the mound last night for the third time on his rehab stint, and his first time with Triple-A Louisville, Caleb Ferguson is getting close to a return. He’s expected to pitch again on Friday night for the Bats. That will be the first time he’ll be asked to go on back-to-back nights while working his way back from an oblique strain.