Nick Lodolo, who had a blister on his left index finger, was placed on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday. This means that the Reds will be without their best-performing starter pitcher for the foreseeable future.
In 70 innings and 12 starts, Lodolo, 26, is 8-3 with a 2.96 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. He claimed that the blister problem started around the end of his June 18 game against Pittsburgh but worsened on Sunday against the Red Sox.
“Basically, it’s a waiting game as the skin heals. I’ll be prepared as soon as I’m permitted to go back,” Lodolo declared.”It’s definitely the right decision,” Reds manager David Bell said. “Maybe we could have avoided the IL and he would have pitched the 13th day or 14th day. It makes me more confident he could pitch on [July 9]. He’s going to be ready.” The blister is on the pad of the index finger, which made it difficult for Lodolo to have the feel for his potent curveball against the Red Sox. Lodolo, who lasted a season-low 4 2/3 innings and allowed a season-high-tying four runs in a 7-4 loss to Boston, is eligible to return on July 9. The IL placement is retroactive to Monday.
“You are not in control of the ball, nor can you feel it.” It’s simply on my finger in a painful place,” he remarked.
Due to a blister on the same finger, Lodolo missed over three weeks of work with Double-A Chattanooga in 2021.
“Things were much worse. Really, it’s about preventing it from reaching that stage, according to Lodolo.
Lodolo has been on the IL three times this season. Due to an ailment to his left calf sustained during his recovery from a stress fracture in his tibia sustained in 2023, he missed the first few games of the season.
Lodolo returned to the IL on May 15 due to a discomfort in his left groin.“It’s obviously not fun to get going, stop, get going again,” Lodolo said. “There’s nothing I can do about that. I just have to keep moving so in two weeks when I’m ready to go again, I’ve put myself in a good spot to pick up where I left off.” odolo has already more than doubled his innings total from last season, when he was limited to seven starts by his leg injury. With the exception of his frequent IL trips, he’s been pleased with his performance in 2024. “I feel great. That’s the one thing that’s upsetting about not being able to keep going,” he said. Cincinnati recalled right-handed reliever Yosver Zulueta from Triple-A Louisville to replace Lodolo on the active roster.
The Reds have adjusted their rotation by shifting everybody back a day, with Andrew Abbott now starting Thursday at St. Louis, followed by Frankie Montas, Carson Spiers and Hunter Greene. As for Wednesday’s series finale vs. the Pirates, Graham Ashcraft will be recalled from Louisville for the start. Ashcraft’s planned start in the Triple-A on Tuesday was postponed.
Tuesday also brought some noteworthy injury news: first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand will miss the remainder of the regular season due to surgery on his right hand. He is expected to recover for three months following the treatment, which is set for July 11 in Arizona.