Reds Game Today: Jose Franco Recalled for MLB Debut as Injuries Reshape Opening Day Pitching Plan
Reds game today is being shaped by a sudden roster move: Cincinnati has recalled right-hander Jose Franco, setting him up for a major league debut in the near future. The move was announced on Wednesday, with the club adjusting its Opening Day pitching picture after injuries forced changes late in the process. The immediate trigger was left-hander Nick Lodolo landing on the 15-day injured list with a blister issue on his left hand.
What changed on the roster, and why it matters for Reds Game Today
The Reds recalled Franco after he had been optioned to Triple-A earlier in the week, a quick turnaround that puts him back in the big-league mix. Lodolo’s move to the 15-day IL opened the door, and Cincinnati also placed left-hander Caleb Ferguson on the 15-day IL due to an oblique strain. With those changes, left-hander Sam Moll—who is out of minor league options—takes a spot as a second lefty in the Opening Day bullpen.
What’s still unresolved: it is not yet clear when Franco will get into a game. The club has indicated he is now in line to debut at some point in the near future, but no precise game appearance timing was specified in the announcement.
Jose Franco’s path to the call-up
Franco, 25, impressed in limited spring work, allowing a pair of runs on five hits and a walk while striking out eight in 4 2/3 innings during Cactus League play. He is described as one of the top-ranked arms in the Reds’ system, coming off a 2025 season in which he combined for 110 innings with a 3. 11 ERA between Double-A and Triple-A. He struck out just over one quarter of opponents, though his 11. 5% walk rate was identified as an area that could improve.
His repertoire is built around velocity and a compact mix: he averaged 95. 3 mph on a four-seam fastball last year, paired with a curveball that averaged 84. 4 mph and a more rarely used changeup at 88. 7 mph. Scouting reports from FanGraphs, Baseball America, and MLB. com have pegged him as a potential fourth starter or a pitcher who could fit a swing role similar to the one Nick Martinez has held in Cincinnati in recent seasons.
Rotation outlook and immediate usage options
With Hunter Greene expected to miss time until midseason following elbow surgery and Lodolo now on the injured list, the Reds are set to open the season with Andrew Abbott, Brady Singer, Rhett Lowder, Chase Burns, and Brandon Williamson in the rotation—in that order. Franco’s presence gives Cincinnati another lever to pull if workloads or health issues force quick pivots early.
One possibility outlined internally is a piggyback scenario with Burns, who was slowed late in camp by range-of-motion issues. Another is using Franco as a long-relief option, since he has been stretched out for a starter’s role in Triple-A—valuable insurance if a Cincinnati starter has a short outing in his first appearance of the season. For Reds game today, the most immediate takeaway is depth: Franco is on hand as the club navigates early-season uncertainty across the staff.
Other Opening Day roster notes
Beyond Franco’s recall, there were no other major surprises in the day’s Opening Day roster announcement. Cincinnati previously selected Nathaniel Lowe’s contract and moved Greene to the 60-day IL at that time. The Reds also optioned outfielder JJ Bleday to Triple-A Louisville, setting the bench group as Lowe, backup catcher Jose Trevino, outfielder Dane Myers, and Spencer Steer, who will rotate across multiple positions rather than playing a single everyday spot.
Will Benson made the roster and is expected to receive the lion’s share of playing time as part of a left field platoon. Benson and Bleday both showed significant power during the spring, with the expectation that performance and injuries could lead to movement between Triple-A and the majors during the season.
What’s next
The immediate next development to watch is when Cincinnati chooses to deploy Franco, since the club has not specified his first MLB appearance yet. With multiple pitchers on the injured list and early-season roles still being defined, the team’s handling of Franco—starter, piggyback, or long relief—will signal how aggressively it intends to protect the rotation’s innings. For fans tracking Reds game today, the headline is clear: a surprise recall has put a top arm on the doorstep of his debut, and the first opportunity could arrive quickly as the season opens.
