Stephenson (shoulder) isn't with the Reds on their current road trip, MLB.com's Mark Sheldon reports.

EDGE Analysis

As a result it's unlikely that Stephenson will be activated before the end of the season. "It's winding down. It's becoming less likely," Reds interim manager Jim Riggleman said. "If he were to get an inning or two in during that last series against Pittsburgh, that would be fine. He'd have to show he's absolutely 100 percent for us to warrant putting him out there for a couple of innings."

Stephenson was put on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to Monday due to shoulder tendinitis.

EDGE Analysis

Since Stephenson hasn't pitched in the past few days, the club was able to backdate his placement on the DL, making him eligible to return Sept. 6. It's unclear how much time the right-hander will require in order to recover from this bout of tendinitis, so don't be surprised if he winds up spending a couple weeks on the shelf. In a corresponding move, the club recalled Austin Brice from the minors.

Stephenson will shift to the Reds' bullpen effective Sunday, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Reds move to a five-man rotation sees Stephenson and Sal Romano as the odd men out, as it appears Cody Reed will now get a look in the rotation. Stephenson logged only 10.2 innings across three starts, allowing nine runs and 14 hits with an awful 10:12 K:BB.

The Reds are moving back to a five-man rotation next week, even though they were unable to trade Matt Harvey, MLB.com's Matthew Martell reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Reds haven't yet said who will be removed from the rotation, but Stephenson is among those at risk of losing a spot.

Stephenson fell to 0-2 on the season after allowing four runs on nine hits and three walks in five innings Wednesday against the Brewers, striking out four.

EDGE Analysis

It certainly wasn't a good game for Stephenson, but by some measures it could be considered his best, as he lasted just four and 1.2 innings in his first two starts of the season. Wednesday's start also marked the first time he struck out more batters than he walked this year. Still, it's hard to feel very positive about an outing in which the 25-year-old had a WHIP of 2.40. Assuming he's still in the rotation, his next chance to impress is expected to come next Wednesday against the Brewers.

Stephenson (0-1) allowed three runs on three hits and five walks while striking out four over four innings in a loss to the Mets on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Stephenson failed to carry the momentum from his recent run with Triple-A Louisville into his first major-league start of 2018. While he got 12 swinging strikes on 76 pitches, Stephenson seemed reluctant to challenge hitters in the zone after falling behind, which he did regularly throughout the afternoon. The former top prospect now has a 5.5 BB/9 in 125.2 innings at the big-league level, but it sounds like he will get one last chance to show what he can do as a starter down the stretch with the Reds moving back to a six-man rotation. Stephenson lines up to face the Indians at home next week.

Interim manager Jim Riggleman said that Stephenson will be in the Reds' rotation moving forward and is not just making a spot start Wednesday, John Fay of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

It sounds like Cincinnati is moving back to a six-man rotation, with Stephenson taking over for Tyler Mahle, who was recently demoted to Triple-A Louisville. Stephenson will be making his first appearance of the season with the major-league team Wednesday, starting opposite Jacob deGrom. A former top prospect, Stephenson has failed to come close to living up to the hype so far, but his recent run with Louisville (68:22 K:BB in his last 56 innings) offers a glimmer of hope that he may still make it as a back-end starter.

The Reds recalled Stephenson from Triple-A Louisville ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday against the Mets.

EDGE Analysis

Cincinnati optioned reliever Jesus Reyes to Louisville in order to make room on the active roster for Stephenson, who is likely just making a spot start for the big club with the team in need of a temporary sixth starter after playing a doubleheader over the weekend. Though he has mostly struggled in his previous stints in the majors, Stephenson returns to Cincinnati following a highly impressive run at Triple-A. He struck out 13 over six scoreless, one-hit innings his last time out Aug. 3 and has accrued a 1.61 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 68:22 K:BB in 56 innings over his past nine outings.

Stephenson will get the start for the Reds on Wednesday against the Mets, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Stephenson has really pulled it together at Triple-A Louisville, posting a 2.87 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 135 strikeouts in 113 innings. He has walked 57 batters, but that walk rate generally has been lower lately. He takes the spot vacated by Tyler Mahle, but it's uncertain if he'll get more starts beyond that, as it gives the Reds six starters again.

Stephenson has gone 6-1 with a 1.67 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 50:14 K:BB over 43 innings in his last seven starts at Triple-A Louisville.

EDGE Analysis

The low walk total may be the most notable aspect of that stat line, as Stephenson's wayward control has long been the biggest hurdle he has had to overcome in his development. A seven-start sample can't be taken as evidence that Stephenson has completely turned the corner, but the hot run might be enough for him to get another look with the Reds in the second half as a starter or multi-inning relief man.