Reds vs Phillies

Williamson made it through just three innings before coming out of Wednesday's game, giving up four earned runs on four hits and four walks while striking out four batters. It's unknown whether his shoulder will force him to move to the IL, though the Reds may offer more information after they take a closer look at him.

Ferguson threw 16 pitches (12 strikes) as a game opener in his second rehab appearance for the Lookouts. The Reds are expected to have the left-hander throw at least two more games for Triple-A Louisville, MLB.com reports.

Suarez's recovery from a left oblique strain has come along more slowly than expected, but he's ready to start ramping up baseball-related drills. He'll get another MRI later this week when the Reds return home in order to check his progress. Suarez should be ready to rejoin the Reds' active roster by mid-May if all goes well.

The right-hander underwent surgery on his right elbow in mid-March to remove bone chips, and he moved to the 60-day injured list shortly thereafter. Greene will be eligible to be reinstated in late May but is expected to be out for most of the season's first half. A clearer return timeline should come into focus once he advances to mound work.

Lodolo, who has been on the shelf all season while recovering from a blister on his left index finger, met with team officials following his rehab start Saturday with Triple-A Louisville and received the green light to make his next appearance with the Reds. The left-hander threw 79 pitches in his third and final rehab outing, including "16 or 17" sliders, which is the pitch that originally caused the blister.

Summoned to protect a 3-2 lead in the ninth inning, Pagan gave up a leadoff triple to Pete Crow-Armstrong before eventually serving up a walk-off solo home run to Michael Conforto. It was Pagan's third blown save of the season, which perhaps leaves the door open for someone like Tony Santillan or Graham Ashcraft to see more save chances for the Reds going forward. Through 14 innings, Pagan owns a rough 6.43 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 11:6 K:BB with six saves.

The 34-year-old will step away from the team for a few days for personal reasons. Johnson could rejoin the Reds toward the end of the upcoming road series versus the Cubs, which ends Thursday.

Duran looked like himself during a bullpen session over the weekend and is poised to skip a rehab assignment and go directly back on the active roster Tuesday. The 28-year-old notched five saves while posting a 1.35 ERA and 8:0 K:BB over 6.2 innings before straining in left oblique a little over three weeks ago.

Backhus needed 15 pitches (12 strikes) to get the job done in the first inning, but the Cubs, who have been one of the best offenses in the majors over the last 10 days, still found a way to score against him. Backhus should return to his regular role in the bullpen moving forward and has been pitching well of late, tossing four scoreless outings over six appearances this month, with a 2.45 ERA across 7.1 innings.

Lazar has been out all season with a left oblique strain he suffered during the World Baseball Classic while playing for Team Israel. He is on the 60-day injured list and not eligible to return until late May, so Lazar will make several rehab appearances before the Phillies consider adding him back to their active roster.

Andrew Painter had been lined up to start the series finale, but Pop will take the hill to begin the game after Painter was a late scratch due to a migraine. Pop hasn't covered more than an inning in any of his appearances in spring training nor during any of his six relief outings so far during the regular season, so he's not expected to provide the Phillies with much length in his first MLB start.