Reds rumors: 3 players who won’t be on the roster on September 1

Reds rumors: Ben Lively likely won’t be on the roster by September 1

For the most part, Ben Lively hadn’t thrown terribly for the Reds in 2023. But his most recent outing against the Cubs may spell the end of his time as a Red, especially since he was moved to the injured list just after the start, giving the other Reds starting pitchers time to get healthy while he also rests up.

In this start against the Cubs, Lively ended up raising his ERA by over a run. He was the victim of a Reds team that has a tremendously taxed bullpen, so he was left in the game much longer than he would have liked. In that game, he hurled four innings and surrendered 13 hits, 13 runs (all earned) while allowing four home runs. It was truly an outing out of a pitcher’s nightmare where nothing could go his way.

Shortly after this start, Lively landed on the IL, where his spot in the rotation will be filled by a prospect until the Reds can make it back to full health. By September 1st, David Bell will likely have Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo returning which would shut down any chance that Lively has to join the rotation when he’s healthy again. It seems like his time in Cincinnati may be over, at least for the time being.