The Cincinnati Reds' starting rotation is facing some uncertainty as left-handed pitcher Brandon Williamson has been placed on the injured list due to left shoulder fatigue. The move leaves the team scrambling to fill the fifth starter spot, with manager Terry Francona admitting the situation is fluid.

"We've got to see how we get there," Francona said. "We've got a lot of moving parts."

The Reds need a starter for Monday's game against the Chicago Cubs, and several options are on the table. Triple-A pitcher Chase Petty, who is healthy after a shortened start earlier this week, and long reliever Jose Franco could provide some innings. Alternatively, the team could opt for a bullpen game to cover the workload.

There is some good news on the horizon, though. Left-hander Nick Lodolo is making progress toward a return after dealing with a recurring blister issue. He's scheduled for a rehab start on Saturday in Triple-A, where he recently pitched five innings while limiting his breaking ball usage—the pitch that has historically aggravated his blister problem. Lodolo hasn't made his season debut yet, but his recovery is moving in the right direction.

Williamson's shoulder troubles are nothing new. He dealt with similar issues in 2022 and 2024, and now again in 2026. After receiving a cortisone shot on Thursday, he'll focus on a shoulder strengthening program. "Structurally, he came back good. That's good," Francona noted.

The 27-year-old has barely pitched since the 2023 season, missing most of 2024 with a shoulder injury and all of 2025 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Stepping back into game action after such a long layoff has been a challenge. "I'm to the point where I'm catching up to a lot of not playing for so long," Williamson said. "You really grind through it. It's caught up to me a bit. I'm trying to figure it out."

Francona isn't surprised by the setback, given Williamson's time away from the mound. "When it does happen, I don't think it's out of the ordinary," he said. "When he made the club, he pitched so well this spring, we were all concerned that it's going to be (starting) every five or six days, and there would be some hiccups."

In six starts this season, Williamson has a 6.11 ERA, with walks being a major issue—he leads the National League with 20 free passes. That was especially evident in Wednesday's 13-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies. With time to rest and recover, both Williamson and the Reds hope he can find more consistency when he returns to the mound.