In the ongoing blister saga that has been Nick Lodolo’s recent Reds career, last night was yet another setback. In the top of the sixth inning against the Cubs last night, he left a meatball sinker center-cut to Carson Kelly who promptly deposited the pitch 410 feet into left-center field. Lodolo instantly stared down at his finger, called over the training staff, and promptly exited the game, to be replaced by Caleb Ferguson.
This is the third straight season that this injury has manifested and derailed the lefty’s progress. In 2024 and 2025 Lodolo missed multiple weeks with blister problems, and we hoped that his camp might find some way to prevent it from flaring up again. But despite his best efforts, he again developed a blister during spring training and went on the injured list.
Another blister appeared during Lodolo’s rehabilitation start and set it back by weeks. He fought through it to make his 2026 debut on May 8 and managed 12 starts before leaving last nights game, going 3-2 with a 4.60 ERA. In his last three starts prior to last night he allowed just a single earned run over 15 innings while striking out 14 for a 0.60 ERA.
This morning the Reds announced that Lodolo would be heading to the 15-day IL, but history has shown that his recovery times range wildly, and so who knows exactly when he might return.
The timing of this injury could not have been worse for a team in the Reds’ position. Lodolo is arbitration eligible next year and a free agent afterwards. He was a likely trade candidate given Cincinnati’s surplus of arms, but his injury could sideline him past the August 3 trade deadline. Even if he does make it back, it would be hard to imagine teams would be quick to trade for a pitcher making over four million dollars who could be sidelined due to a chronic injury at any time, and one that seemingly can’t be prevented.
It’s hard not to feel at least some sympathy for Lodolo, who has 27 wins for the Ress over his five seasons for them.
“Frustration is extremely high,” Lodolo said. “We keep trying new things. I really thought what we were doing now, I was going to be in the clear. But obviously not. I’ve got to keep trying to figure it out, whether it’s something to do or I don’t know, changing grip or something.”
From an organizational standpoint it makes relying on Lodolo to be a significant contributor extremely difficult, especially given how big a role he could play in helping the rotation. And if he does change his grip, there is always the question of how it will impact his velocity and the effectiveness of his curveball. Any way you slice it, it is not something you want to see for a team already struggling to make through a difficult and disappointing season.
