This story was excerpted from Mark Sheldon's Reds Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CINCINNATI -- The Reds were comfortable with both their rotation quality and its depth going into the 2024 season. But attrition from injuries has whittled away their available and healthy starters.

It's to the point where one wonders not only how Cincinnati will put together a rotation for the rest of the season, but for the rest of the week.

“It’s day to day," manager David Bell said. "There’s a lot of work going on, trying to come up with the best solutions. We’ll definitely figure it out. We want to be sure we don’t put anyone out there too much. It could lead to an injury. That’s the last thing we would need. It’s trying to make sure we have the innings covered but also give us the best chance to win games.”

The latest blow came Tuesday when Nick Lodolo went on the 15-day injured list for the fourth time this year, this time for a left middle finger sprain.

Lodolo is the third starter to go on the IL in recent days. All-Star Hunter Greene has been out with a sore right elbow since Aug. 14. On Friday, Andrew Abbott was scratched and placed on the IL with a left shoulder strain.

Also missing are Graham Ashcraft, who has been out since early July due to a right elbow strain and isn't expected to return this season, and Brandon Williamson, who has yet to pitch in the big leagues this season due to a left shoulder strain, but threw 2 2/3 innings in his rehab assignment for Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday.

One other Reds rotation member from the beginning of the year, Frankie Montas, was traded to the Brewers on July 30.

Entering Wednesday, there are 30 games left in the season as the 63-69 Reds have continued to fade from postseason contention.

For Wednesday vs. the A's, the Reds are using an opener in Fernando Cruz. Rookie and No. 11 prospect Julian Aguiar, who replaced Greene, is slated to face Oakland on Thursday.

The Reds have a doubleheader vs. Milwaukee on Friday and don’t get another off-day until Tuesday. It was learned via a source on Wednesday that No. 2 prospect (No. 35 overall) Rhett Lowder will be promoted from Louisville to start Game 2 after only 22 Minor League starts across three levels in his first pro season. The club has not confirmed the news.

“I just have to do whatever I can to help us try to piece it together," starter Nick Martinez said.

Martinez pitched three innings on short rest Sunday at Pittsburgh.

Signed to a two-year, $26 million deal in the offseason, he has been used in both starter and reliever roles as a swing man, but he is now the club's best healthy starter.

“I’m up for the challenge. I take care of myself to be able to do stuff like that," Martinez said. "It’s especially why they brought me over here, so I can plug in wherever they need.”

Rookie Carson Spiers, who has been used as a bulk-innings reliever instead of starting the past two turns, followed Martinez with four scoreless innings. At 120 1/3 innings combined for the big leagues and Triple-A, his next outing will give him a new career high in innings.

Reliever Jakob Junis, acquired in the Montas deal, stepped in for Lodolo in Tuesday's 5-4 loss to the A's, but delivered four perfect innings on 43 pitches. A former starter with the Brewers, Junis could be in line for more starts.

Greene underwent an MRI and obtained three opinions on his elbow, with no structural damage being found. That's the good news, especially since he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2019.

The bad news is Greene won't be ready very soon.

"It looks like I need about two weeks or so for the inflammation to go down, to go away," Greene told reporters in Pittsburgh over the weekend. "Then I'll start throwing again."

There is hope that both Greene and Abbott can pitch this year.

"That would be fantastic," Greene said. "It's tough because of where we are in the season. But I feel like I owe that to the team and owe it to myself to finish."

Also at Louisville, the organization has some journeymen pitchers in Brandon Leibrandt, Randy Wynne and Justus Sheffield.

Reliever Brent Suter (left teres major strain) could eventually be an option for shorter starts or bulk innings from the bullpen, but is still on the IL and on a rehab assignment. Casey Kelly, who was a starting pitcher in Korea earlier this month -- and for six seasons total -- pitched three scoreless innings in relief on Saturday. If Williamson continues to progress, he could become an option next month.

“It’s going to take everybody," Lodolo said. "We’re going to have to find a way, one way or another.”