Bouncing back
Williamson matches career high in Miami
After a tough outing in his first start of 2026, Brandon Williamson needed to bounce back when he took the mound for the Cincinnati Reds in Miami on Monday.
He did just that. And then some.
The Martin County West graduate went matched a career high with 6.2 innings, leaving the game with the Reds holding a 1-0 lead over the Marlins in an eventual 2-0 win.
It’s the third time he’s gone 6.2 innings. The others were at home in his rookie season in 2023, on June 2 vs. Milwaukee and Aug. 7 vs. Miami.
On Monday, Williamson allowed three hits, walked one and struck out four. He threw 93 pitches, 59 for strikes and retired nine of the final 11 batters he faced.
“I had some good conversations with staff and players here, leaning on them,” Williamson said in the Cincinnati clubhouse following the game. “They definitely helped me find the mental state to perform.
“I was on attack mode when I was pitching, and I felt physically and mentally like I was in a good space to play offense. ‘Here it is, try and hit it,’” Williamson said.
The left-hander added he’s enjoying his return.
“Feels great. I haven’t been in a clubhouse in a long time, so to come in and the first few weeks we play well, it really feels good. It feels like in 2023, when we’re trying to make a playoff run.”
The Reds and Marlins split the four-game series.
Cincinnati is 8-5, a half-game behind 8-4 Milwaukee in the National League Central.
What’s ahead
Williamson’s next start is scheduled for 3:10 p.m. Minnesota time Saturday at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati vs. the Los Angeles Angels.
He’s on track to pitch in his home state for the first time as a professional a week from Friday (April 17) when the Reds play the Twins at Target Field. Game time is 7:10 p.m.
It would be the 15th major league park he’s pitched in.
The list through his start Monday in Miami:
Cincinnati: 13
Chicago Cubs: 2
New York Mets: 2
St. Louis: 2
Arizona: 1
Baltimore: 1
Colorado: 1
Detroit: 1
Kansas City: 1
Los Angeles Dodgers: 1
Miami: 1
Pittsburgh; 1
San Francisco: 1
Washington: 1
Career starts
A look at Brandon Williamson’s starts in his major league career:
2023
May 16 (at Colorado Rockies)
In his first major league start in Denver vs. the Colorado Rockies, Williamson allowed one run on two hits, walking two and striking out six in 5.2 innings. He threw 72 pitches, 47 for strikes. Williamson received a no-decision in Cincinnati’s 3-1 win.
May 22 (vs. St. Louis Cardinals)
Making his first start at Great American Ballpark, Williamson game up four runs on four hits, walking four and striking out three in 4.1 innings pitched. He threw 84 pitches, 48 for strikes. The Reds won 6-5 in 10 innings with Williamson receiving a no-decision.
May 27 (at Chicago Cubs)
Williamson started for the Reds at Wrigley Field in the nationally televised Fox Game of the Week. He allowed four runs on six hits, walking three and fanning three in 4.1 innings. He threw 81 pitches, 52 for strikes. Williamson had another no-decision as Cincinnati won 8-5.
June 2 (vs. Milwaukee Brewers)
Pitching against the team that originally drafted him in the 36th round in 2018, Williamson had career highs of six strikeouts and 6.2 innings. He allowed three runs on five hits. He threw 90 pitches, 59 for strikes. It was another no-decision for Williamson as the Reds lost 5-4 in 11 innings.
June 7 (vs. Los Angeles Dodgers)
Williamson gave up six runs on eight hits (including three home runs), walking two and striking out three in 5.2 innings. He threw a career-high 96 pitches, 58 for strikes. The Reds won 8-6 in 10 innings with Williamson receiving a no-decision.
June 13 (at Kansas City)
The Martin County West graduate recorded his first MLB win as he allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits, not walking a batter and striking out one in five innings. He threw 78 pitches, 51 for strikes. The Reds won 5-4.
June 19 (vs. Colorado)
Another no decision for Williamson, although the first place Reds win 5-4 to improve to 6-1 in games he starts. The left hander went five-plus innings, allowing three runs on six hits, not walking a batter and striking out five. He threw 86 pitches, 59 for strikes.
June 26 (at Baltimore)
A lengthy rain delay resulted in the shortest outing of Williamson’s career as he was replaced in the third inning. He went two innings, allowing three runs on two hits, walking four and striking out two as he took his first big league loss. Williamson threw 67 pitches, 39 for strikes. The Orioles won 10-3.
July 1 (vs. San Diego)
Williamson pitched well but did take his second big league loss. The score was tied 1-1 when he left the game, and he was responsible for a runner on first who did score and the Padres went to win 12-5. Williamson went five-plus innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits, one walk and five strikeouts. He threw 86 pitches, 51 for strikes.
July 6 (at Washington)
Rain again played a role in a short outing. There was a delay of 1 hour and 43 minutes after the first inning. Williamson took a bit of the load off the bullpen by making it through three innings. He didn’t allow a run on one hit, walked one and struck out four and the Reds eventually won 5-4 in 10 innings.
July 19 (vs. San Francisco)
A quality start (the third pitcher in five games to do so for the Reds) and a no-decision. Williamson pitched six innings, allowing two runs on four hits, walking three and striking out three. He threw a career-high 98 pitches, 61 for strikes.
July 22 (vs. Arizona)
In arguably the best start of his career to date, Williamson picks up his second career win as he goes six innings, allowing one run on three hits, walking one and striking out five as the Reds beat the Diamondbacks 4-2. He threw 80 pitches, 55 for strikes.
July 28 (at Los Angeles)
Williamson claims his second straight win, allowing two runs in 5.2 innings in the Reds’ 6-5 win. He allowed 12 baserunners on eight hits and four walks but induced the Dodgers to hit into three double plays. The lefty threw 77 pitches, 44 for strikes.
Aug. 2 (at Chicago Cubs)
The MCW grad had a career-high seven strikeouts in 4.1 innings in his second career start in the friendly confines of Chicago’s Wrigley Field. He allowed five runs on four hits and walked two. Williamson threw 77 pitches, 50 for strikes as he took a no-decision.
Aug. 7 (vs. Miami)
Williamson said of his effort vs. the Marlins: “It’s probably the best start of my life, honestly,” He tied a career best by going 6.2 innings and set a career high in strikeout with nine. He threw 89 pitches, 63 for strikes.
Aug. 13 (at Pittsburgh)
Starting in his eighth different MLB park, Williamson left the game with a 2-1 lead but wound up with a no decision as the Pirates rallied to win 4-2. The MCW grad went 5.2 innings, allowing one run on two hits, walking two and striking out six. He threw 88 pitches, 55 for strikes.
Aug. 19 (vs. Toronto)
Williamson threw a career-high 101 pitches in taking the loss at home vs. Toronto as the Blue Jays won 4-3. He threw 66 strikes. In 5.2 innings Williamson allowed four runs on nine hits, walking one and striking out six.
Aug. 24 (at Arizona)
In his longest stretch of shutout innings in a start, Williamson went six scoreless frames and wound up with a no decision in a game the Diamondbacks won 3-2. He allowed six hits, walked one and struck out six. The left hander threw 98 pitches, 64 for strikes.
Aug. 29 (at San Francisco)
The left-hander set another career high for pitches as he threw 105 in six innings as he took a loss to the Giants to drop to 4-4. He allowed five runs (three earned) on six hits, didn’t walk a batter and struck out five.
Sept. 12 (at Detroit)
In his first start coming off 10 days on the COVID-19 injured list, Williamson went four-plus innings and took a no-decision in a game the Reds won 6-5 in 10 innings. He allowed five runs on seven hits, walked two and struck out four.
Sept. 17 (at New York Mets)
Williamson made it a dozen major league parks he had started a game in as he went four innings and took the loss as the Reds fell to the Mets 8-4 in the Big Apple. He allowed three runs on six hits, walked one and struck out two.
Sept. 24 (vs. Pittsburgh)
The left hander went 4 1/3 innings and was not involved in the decision in a 4-2 Reds win over the Pirates. He allowed two runs on four hits, walked one and struck out three.
Sept. 29 (at St. Louis)
In the final start of his rookie season, Williamson was the winning pitcher to finish with a 5-5 record, He went six innings, allowing two runs on five hits, walking two and fanning two as Cincinnati rolled to a 19-2 win over the Cardinals.
2024
Sept. 1 (vs. Milwaukee)
Williamson made his 2024 debut vs. Milwaukee, striking out five batters as he hit the 100 mark for his career. Activated from the 60-day injured list following a shoulder strain, he went 3.1 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) while giving up three hits and not walking a batter. The Reds won 4-3 in 11 innings.
Sept. 6 (at New York Mets)
The MCW graduate went 4.2 innings at Citi Field, allowing one run on one hit, walking one, hitting two batters and striking out one.
Sept. 11 (at St. Louis)
Williamson made it through five innings and was not involved in the decision in an eventual 2-1 Cardinals’ win. He gave up one run on three hits, walking two and striking out five.
Sept. 17 (vs. Atlanta)
In what turned out to be his final appearance for 560 days, Williamson left his start against Atlanta with a left elbow injury after throwing only 44 pitches. The injury was later revealed to be a complete tear of his ulnar collateral ligament, resulting in Tommy John surgery, and marked his final appearance before a long rehabilitation process. In 1.1 innings he gave up three runs on three hits, walking two and striking out one.
2025
Williamson missed the entire 2025 season following Tommy John surgery.
2026
March 31 (vs. Pittsburgh)
Making his return to the mound, Williamson gave up five runs in the second inning but worked through that to go 4.2 innings vs. the Pirates. He allowed six runs on six hits, walked two and struck out three, taking the loss as Pittsburgh won 8-3.
April 6 (at Miami)
Williamson went 6.2 innings for the third time in his career vs. the Marlins. He didn’t give up a run while allowing three hits, walking one and striking out four. He threw 93 pitches, 59 for strikes. Williamson was the winning pitcher as the Reds won 2-0.