Lodolo (0-1) took the loss Friday, giving up four runs on five hits and a walk over 5.1 innings as the Reds were routed 10-0 by the Astros. He struck out two.
Making his first start of the season after a blister issue cost him the first six weeks, Lodolo tossed 53 of 78 pitches for strikes but served up a pair of two-run homers, one by Zach Dezenzo in the second inning and the other by Yordan Alvarez in the sixth. Lodolo didn't shy away from using all his pitches, and his fingers appeared to emerge from the outing unscathed, but his velocity did decline in his final inning of work. The southpaw will look to build up his stamina and sharpen his command in his next trip to the mound, which is set to come at home next week against the Nationals.
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Reds' Nick Lodolo: Activated ahead of season debut
Rotowire
The Reds activated Lodolo (finger) from the 15-day injured list Friday.
After missing the first six weeks of the season with a blister on his left index finger, Lodolo is set to make his season debut Friday with a start at home against the Astros. The left-hander threw 79 pitches in his final rehab start, so he's not expected to have any real workload limitations. Lodolo contributed a 3.33 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 156:31 K:BB across 156.2 innings for Cincinnati in the 2025 regular season.
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Reds' Nick Lodolo: Won't face limitations in debut
Rotowire
Lodolo (finger) expects to face no workload limitations when he's activated from the 15-day injured list to start Friday's game against the Astros in Cincinnati, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
Lodolo, who has been on the shelf all season while recovering from a blister on his left index finger, met with team officials following his rehab start Saturday with Triple-A Louisville and received the green light to make his next appearance with the Reds. The left-hander threw 79 pitches in his third and final rehab outing, including "16 or 17" sliders, which is the pitch that originally caused the blister.
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Reds' Nick Lodolo: Poised to come off IL on Friday
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Lodolo (finger) is expected to return from the 15-day injured list to start Friday's home game against the Astros, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Lodolo -- who has been on the shelf all season due to a blister on his left index finger -- made the third and final start of his rehab assignment Saturday, striking out six batters and allowing two earned runs on five hits and two walks over 4.1 innings for Triple-A Louisville. The left-hander built up to 79 pitches in the outing, so he should be ready to handle a fairly normal workload next weekend in what would be his 2026 debut for the Reds. Before the Reds lock Lodolo into their upcoming pitching schedule, he'll likely need to complete a bullpen session Monday or Tuesday without incident.
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Reds' Nick Lodolo: Taking rehab to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Reds transferred Lodolo's (finger) rehab assignment to Triple-A Louisville on Saturday.
Lodolo looked sharp in his rehab outing with High-A Dayton this past Sunday, when he allowed two hits and zero walks while striking out seven across five innings. He's been cleared to move his rehab assignment to Triple-A, and he may need just one outing with Louisville before being cleared to return to the big club. Lodolo is in the final stages of his recovery from a blister on his left index finger that landed him on the 15-day injured list prior to the start of the regular season.
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Reds' Nick Lodolo: Another rehab start ahead
Rotowire
Lodolo (finger) will make his next rehab start Saturday at a yet-to-be-determined affiliate, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.
Lodolo fanned seven over five scoreless frames with High-A Dayton on Sunday in his first rehab outing. He threw about 10 breaking balls in that start, and it's likely he'll attempt to incorporate more Saturday as he works his way back from a blister on his left index finger. Lodolo could return from the injured list next week following Saturday's outing, but it's possible the Reds ask him to make an additional rehab start to continue building up his pitch count.
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Reds' Nick Lodolo: Fires five scoreless in rehab start
Rotowire
Lodolo (finger) allowed two hits and struck out seven over five scoreless innings for High-A Dayton on Sunday.
Lodolo, who's been on the 15-day injured list since Opening Day due to a blister, kicked off a second rehab assignment Sunday. The left-hander was sharp, throwing 39 strikes among his 51 pitches. His first rehab was cut short when the blister resurfaced as he tried to throw a slider during a start for Dayton on April 2, per Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. There was no data or reporting on how many sliders Lodolo used Sunday.
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Reds' Nick Lodolo: Throws sim game
Rotowire
Lodolo (blister) threw 31 pitches across two simulated innings of batting practice Friday, MLB.com reports.
A recurring blister, which first popped up toward the end of spring training, landed Lodolo on the injured list to start the season. If he comes out of Friday's session without a setback, the Reds are hoping the left-hander can build up to three innings Tuesday.
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Reds' Nick Lodolo: Could face hitters Friday
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Reds manager Terry Francona said Tuesday that Lodolo (finger) could face hitters Friday, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.
Lodolo has thrown a couple bullpen sessions since he had to be pulled off his rehab assignment following a setback with the blister on his left index finger. He has not thrown breaking balls during those sessions, however, and re-incorporating those pitches will be a big test for his blister. If Lodolo does face hitters Friday and gets through that step without issues, he could be cleared to resume a rehab assignment.
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Reds' Nick Lodolo: Throws bullpen session
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Lodolo (blister) threw a 10-pitch bullpen session Thursday at less than full intensity, MLB.com reports.
Lodolo's session was described as going well, and the left-hander is scheduled for another one Sunday. The blister reared itself late in spring training and affected Lodolo's rehab start earlier this month.
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Reds' Nick Lodolo: Making progress
Rotowire
Lodolo is using a new "resource" to deal with his blister issue and is making some progress in his recovery. He played catch on Monday, Charlie Goldsmith of Charlie's Chalkboard reports.
This is not the first time that Lodolo has dealt with the blister issue, and yet one of the problems for him is the lack of a blister specialist to help him out. "Everyone's skin is different," Lodolo said. "How it feels, how you throw the ball, how it comes off of your finger, the pressure. A lot of guys are more middle finger on the ball. I'm more index finger heavy. It's about figuring out how we can manage it. I threw a good amount last year, and it only happened once."
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Reds' Nick Lodolo: Exits rehab start early
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Lodolo (blister) exited his minor-league rehab start with Single-A Daytona on Thursday in the third inning, Pat Brennan of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Lodolo was looking to move past the blister on his left index finger by making one start with Single-A Daytona, but the blister reared its ugly head with two outs in the top of the third, forcing the southpaw out of the contest. The hope was that the 28-year-old would be able to return to the Reds in the coming days, but that now appears to be unlikely. Lodolo retired all eight batters he faced in order Thursday, striking out four in the process, and he finished having thrown just 40 pitches when he was scheduled to throw between 60 and 65.
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Reds' Nick Lodolo: Bullpen session on tap
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Lodolo (finger) will throw a bullpen session Sunday, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.
Lodolo landed on the injured list ahead of Opening Day due to a blister on his left index finger, and after starting to play catch Tuesday, he's now been cleared to resume mound work. If all goes well Sunday, the 28-year-old could make a rehab start in the minors Wednesday.
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Reds' Nick Lodolo: Move to IL official
Rotowire
The Reds placed Lodolo (finger) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Lodolo had been slated to pitch during the Reds' first series of the season but will instead hit the shelf after he exited his final Grapefruit League start last weekend when he developed a blister on his left index finger. The southpaw was able to resume playing catch Tuesday, so assuming his finger presents no further issues for him while he builds back up, he could be ready to return from the IL when first eligible April 7.
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Reds' Nick Lodolo: Ramping up
Rotowire
Lodolo allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits while striking out seven over 4.2 innings in Tuesday's spring start against the Guardians.
Lodolo made his fourth Cactus League start and upped his pitch count to 77 (46 strikes), with one start remaining before the regular season begins. The lefty allowed a home run for the third consecutive outing but was much improved from his previous outing, when the Dodgers touched him for six runs. Lodolo is set to start the Reds' second game of the regular season.
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Reds' Nick Lodolo: Departs start with apparent injury
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Lodolo was removed from Thursday's start against the Pirates in the seventh inning with an apparent injury, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.
Lodolo was visited by the trainer after striking out Andrew McCutchen to lead off the top of the seventh inning and eventually walked off the field. It's unclear what happened, but blisters have been an issue for Lodolo in the past, so it's possible another one popped up. The Reds should have more on his condition shortly. Lodolo was dominant before being removed, striking out 12 while yielding just two hits and one walk over 6.1 scoreless frames.
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Reds' Nick Lodolo: Cleared to start Monday
Rotowire
Reds manager Terry Francona said Friday that Lodolo (illness) will start Monday's game in San Diego, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.
Lodolo had to be scratched from his last scheduled outing due to an illness but will be ready to rejoin the Reds' rotation for Monday's series opener versus the Padres. The left-hander is tentatively set up for a two-start week, with the second matchup coming on the road versus the Athletics.
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Reds' Nick Lodolo: Activated, starting Wednesday
Rotowire
The Reds reinstated Lodolo (finger) from the 15-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday against the Dodgers in Los Angeles.
Cincinnati placed reliever Graham Ashcraft (forearm) on the 15-day IL to clear room on the active roster for Lodolo, who had been on the shelf since Aug. 5 due to a left index finger blister. Lodolo didn't go out on a rehab assignment prior to being activated, but he was able to get built back up to some degree with a three-inning simulated game this past weekend. The southpaw could be in line for a lighter workload than normal as he rejoins the Reds to make his 24th start of the season.
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Reds' Nick Lodolo: Throws three simulated innings
Rotowire
Lodolo (finger) faced hitters in a three-inning simulated game Friday, MLB.com reports.
Pending a follow-up examination, Lodolo could be reinstated from the 15-day injured list and rejoin the Cincinnati rotation to start Wednesday's series finale versus the Dodgers in Los Angeles.
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Reds' Nick Lodolo: Facing live batters Friday
Rotowire
Lodolo (finger) will face hitters in a batting practice session Friday, MLB.com reports.
Pending the outcome of Friday's session, Lodolo could rejoin the Reds rotation and start the series finale against the Dodgers next Wednesday in Los Angeles. Nick Martinez is expected to be bumped from the rotation once Lodolo is activated.
