Chase Petty set to start as Reds pivot to a bullpen game vs. Nationals

The Cincinnati Reds will turn to a bullpen game approach for their upcoming contest against the Washington Nationals, with Chase Petty slated to start, according to Yahoo Sports. The immediate backdrop is the absence of Hunter Greene, a factor that reshapes the Reds’ pitching workload and forces a more flexible use of their relief group from the outset.

The Reds also made roster adjustments Thursday afternoon that, by their nature, are designed to keep them properly staffed for the remainder of the club’s slate. Yahoo Sports reported that the Reds had a free spot available on their 40-man roster, and that a second spot was opened after Blake Dunn was moved to the 60-day injured list. In practical terms, these moves report how the organization is balancing immediate availability with long-term roster planning.

A bullpen game is not merely a change in who throws first. It typically indicates that the starting pitcher is expected to work fewer innings than a traditional starter, with multiple relievers bridging the gap and then extending deeper into the game if needed. In this situation, Petty’s assignment as the starter matters most as the first step in that sequence, especially while Cincinnati manages uncertainty around Greene’s status.

For Petty, the assignment represents a clear, high-leverage moment. Even without additional information about his recent workload or performance, getting the ball in a night-start setting where the club expects a bullpen-led remainder puts pressure on efficiency early. The Reds’ ability to get through the middle of an order in consecutive outings, rather than relying on a long starter, becomes a central question for how long they can stay in control against Washington.

The roster moves also create a ripple effect for the bullpen. When a team pulls a pitcher out of the near-term plans by placing him on the 60-day IL, it can change how the leverage relievers are distributed across the back end of the rotation cycle. Dunn’s 60-day placement, as reported, likely helps Cincinnati preserve options for who can be used next, and that matters in August when teams often compress travel and workload in quick succession.

As the game approaches, what to watch is whether Petty can deliver the kind of short-to-medium outing that allows the Reds to avoid an overuse spiral for their bullpen. If the early innings go smoothly, Cincinnati can shift from a one-time bullpen game plan to a more normal relief cadence. If the Nationals get on base early, the game could force additional innings from arms that the Reds would prefer to hold back for later in the week.

With Greene unavailable, the Reds’ pitching staff and rotation depth effectively become the story alongside the roster mechanics. This is a night where the Reds’ immediate decisions, including how they deploy relief pitchers after Petty’s start, will show how well their August depth can replace a missing component without losing too much competitive edge.