Rhett Lowder: Everything you need to know

Lowder took a no-decision Sunday against the Cardinals, allowing no runs on one hit and five walks in three innings. He struck out four. After missing just over three weeks of action with right shoulder discomfort, Lowder showed plenty of rust in his return to the major leagues Sunday following a lone minor-league rehab appearance. The 24-year-old right-hander threw only 34 of his 70 pitches for strikes, also walking a season-worst five hitters, but he managed to keep St. Louis off the board. Lowder has issued at least three passes in three consecutive outings en route to posting a shaky 5.01 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 31:23 K:BB over 41.1 innings, so he'll be searching for some control his next time out versus Arizona.

The Reds activated Lowder (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Sunday. Lowder landed on the injured list May 13 due to right shoulder discomfort, and he's slated to make his return as Sunday's starting pitcher after missing just over three weeks. The right-hander tossed 70 pitches for Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday in his lone rehab appearance, so he may be held to a pitch count in his return to the big-league rotation. To make room for Lowder on the 26-man roster, Cincinnati optioned reliever Luis Mey to Louisville.

Reds manager Terry Francona confirmed Wednesday that Lowder (shoulder) will be reinstated from the injured list to start Sunday's game in St. Louis, Charlie Clifford of NBC 5 Cincinnati reports. Francona indicated previously that Lowder would rejoin the Reds' rotation for Sunday's series finale as long as he got through Tuesday's rehab start at Triple-A Louisville without any hiccups. That happened, as the righty had an 8:0 K:BB over five innings while yielding three runs. Lowder threw 70 pitches on Tuesday, so he will not be fully stretched out against the Cardinals. The right-hander has been sidelined since early May due to right shoulder discomfort.