Cincinnati Reds Face Growing Bullpen Crisis

CINCINNATI, OH - On May 23, 2026, the Cincinnati Reds experienced another setback in their pitching staff as veteran reliever Pierce Johnson was placed on the 15-day injured list due to inflammation in his right elbow. This injury follows the earlier loss of starter Graham Ashcraft, who has been sidelined for 60 days with a UCL strain in the same elbow.

The situation has prompted the team to make significant roster adjustments. Lyon Richardson, who was previously designated for assignment during the offseason, has had his contract selected and will step into the bullpen. In a corresponding move to create space on the 40-man roster, the Reds designated fellow reliever Kyle Nicolas for assignment.

This development comes at a time when the Reds are already missing closer Emilio Pagan, worsening their bullpen woes. Currently, Cincinnati leads the league in walks per nine innings, highlighting the challenges they face even with their top pitchers available. Now, the team is relying on a bullpen that recently drew from its AAA affiliate in Louisville.

While the specifics of Johnson's elbow issue remain unclear, his placement on the injured list raises concerns given the inexperience of the remaining bullpen arms. On a somewhat positive note, Richardson brings some experience, having shown flashes of potential as a major league reliever despite a mixed track record. His AAA performance this season has yielded a 4.75 ERA, with 34 strikeouts against 14 walks in 30.1 innings, although he did suffer a tough outing recently.

With the current state of their bullpen, it may be time for the Reds to seek additional relief options, as they are rapidly depleting their pitching resources.