Mahle is available out of the bullpen Sunday since Wade Miley (groin) will rejoin the starting rotation this week, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 25-year-old was impressive in his two fill-in starts with a 1.80 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 10:3 K:BB over 10 innings, but he'll rejoin the bullpen with the rotation getting back to full strength. Mahle's strong showing should keep him as the top option for any spot starts if the Reds suffer any more injuries to the rotation, and he could also be a piggyback option if Miley is unable to work deep in his first start off the injured list Wednesday.

Mahle allowed one hit and two walks over six scoreless innings in a no-decision against Cleveland on Tuesday. He struck out six.

EDGE Analysis

Mahle was matched up against Shane Bieber and certainly played up to the level of competition, lowering his ERA to 1.80 through two starts this season. He had to watch as the bullpen gave up the lead, but Mahle is pitching well (10:3 K:BB, zero home runs), well enough to where he may force the team to reconsider Wade Miley's role upon Miley's eventual return from a groin injury. As things tentatively line up, Mahle appears slated for a favorable two-step next week (vs. KC, vs. PIT).

Mahle is scheduled to make his next start Tuesday versus Cleveland, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

Mahle initially lined up for a two-start week, but with Anthony DeSclafani (shoulder) due back from the injured list this weekend and with Thursday's game against the Cubs being rained out, the Reds have elected to push Mahle to the back of their pitching schedule. While he'll miss out on a more favorable matchup in Detroit on Sunday and instead draw a tougher assignment at home, Mahle will at least maintain his spot in the rotation after Wade Miley (groin) moved to the IL.

Mahle is scheduled to start Sunday's game against the Tigers, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

With Wade Miley (groin) landing on the injured list, Mahle will stick in the big-league rotation for at least one more turn. The right-hander held his own during a start against the Cubs earlier in the week, allowing two earned runs on six hits and a walk while striking out four batters in four innings.

Mahle allowed two earned runs on six hits and one walk while striking out four across four innings Tuesday against the Cubs. He did not factor into the decision.

EDGE Analysis

Mahle worked through two innings without issue, but was set back in the third inning when it appeared that Shogo Akiyama lost a ball in the sun. That allowed Jason Kipnis to start the inning with a triple, and later come around to score. The next frame, Mahle allowed three consecutive singles, which accounted for his second earned run. On the the positive side, Mahle allowed only the aforementioned extra-base hit, and also racked up 15 called strikes and 10 swinging strikes on 69 total pitches. Mahle may find himself out of the rotation after this start, however, as Anthony DeSclafani (shoulder) projects to be healthy enough to take his next turn through the rotation at Detroit.

Mahle will most likely replace Anthony DeSclafani (teres major strain) in the Reds' rotation, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

DeSclafani insists that he will only miss one start, but there is now an opening in the rotation for Mahle to begin the season. He lines up for a home start against the Cubs on Tuesday. If DeSclafani ends up needing more time, Mahle would get a second start next week at Detroit with the Reds playing seven games.

Mahle went four innings in Friday's scrimmage, allowing four runs on three hits, with the big shot coming on a three-run homer by Matt Davidson. But he also struck out seven without allowing a walk, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Mahle was paired up against Wade Miley, whom he might work in tandem with early in the season as Miley builds up his endurance.

Mahle will either be used in a piggyback role or as a long reliever this season, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

There's little difference between the two roles for fantasy purposes, but the important bit here is that Mahle won't be in the rotation, at least to start the year. His role should still allow him to throw a fair amount of innings, however, and could set him up to steal a win or two early in the year if the Reds' other starters can't initially throw five innings. He'll also presumably be the first option if one of the team's top five starters gets injured.

Mahle finally saw his first spring training action Saturday against the Padres, allowing two earned runs over 1.2 innings, allowing a two-run homer by Jason Vosler after a walk. He struck out four in the outing. He previously had thrown two live batting practice sessions, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Mahle is stuck developing as a starter without a projected opening in the rotation, following the Reds' signing of Wade Miley. He's working on a slider to get him out of tricky situations after struggling last year. "I didn't have an out pitch," Mahle said. "A lot of times I got hurt, it was [with] two strikes. I would try to throw a breaking ball under the zone. I just didn't have that pitch, and it hurt me over and over again. I started throwing a slider for right now. I'm able to do that with a slider. Until the curve can get big enough to where it starts out on the same plane and goes under the zone, that's going to be my slider." Last year Mahle relied mostly on a four-seamer (57.1% of the time according to Statcast) and a curve (23.2%), and didn't throw a slider last year despite throwing it 20% of the time in 2018.

Mahle (3-12) threw five shutout frames while allowing three hits and zero walks with five strikeouts to earn a victory against the Pirates on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

The 24-year-old took full advantage of starting in place of a sick Trevor Bauer in the season finale. Pitching on three-days rest, he threw five scoreless innings for the first time since May 18. Mahle ends the season with a 3-12 record, 5.14 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 129 strikeouts in 129.2 innings this season.