Toglia (dislocated shoulder) day-to-day but 'optimistic' he can return soon

PHOENIX – Things didn’t go the Reds’ way on Friday, but they could have ended up even worse.

Nick Lodolo allowed six earned runs in 3 1/3 innings – and the Reds managed just four hits – in a 9-0 loss to Arizona at Chase Field. The game marked the third time this month Cincinnati has failed to score a run, and was its sixth loss in its last eight games.

To add insult to (literal) injury, an already-banged-up Reds outfield lost left fielder Michael Toglia to a dislocated right shoulder in the first inning. Toglia landed awkwardly after fully extending to rob Geraldo Perdomo of an extra-base hit, and he was tended to by the training staff before exiting the game.

Reds manager Terry Francona said Toglia’s injury may have looked worse than it was, though the team is in wait-and-see mode to see how the outfielder feels on Saturday.

“They put it back in, and there’s some thought that he might be OK,” Francona said. “It seems hard to imagine, but they can’t get an MRI tomorrow like they need to, so it’s going to be kind of on how he feels.”

Toglia said he’s “optimistic” about his prognosis, adding that X-rays were negative.

“It’s definitely pretty sore from being out of place, but I’m not in any pain right now, and the gentle range of motion looked fantastic,” Toglia said. “The whole time walking off the field it was out, and that was pretty painful. I definitely couldn’t move my arm.”

Toglia’s injury came on the same day Francona indicated utility player Spencer Steer's season is likely over. Steer has been on the injured list since July 27, and will be re-evaluated the week of Sept. 7, leaving little time to get back into a lineup that is now eight games back in the NL Wild Card race.

Steer played 59 games in the outfield this season, including 27 in left.

Cincinnati is also missing outfielder Blake Dunn, who is not expected back until the 2027 season after being placed on the injured list on June 28. All things considered, it would be a huge break if Toglia misses little -- or no -- time.

“When you see somebody with a lump in their shoulder, you’re thinking long term,” Francona said.

That’s where the good news ended on Friday, though.

Lodolo struggled from the outset, throwing 58 pitches in the game’s first two innings while finishing with 91 -- including 50 for strikes. Forty-one of those strikes were in the strike zone, and he threw an even mix of his changeup (27), curveball (23), sinker (21) and four-seamer (20).

Arizona’s Jordan Lawlar blasted a 94.8 mph fastball into the left-field seats in the second to give the D-backs a 3-0 lead, and they made contact with nine of their 12 swings against the changeup.

“They hit my changeup pretty well,” Lodolo said. “I had to bring it back into the zone, but overall, there's obviously a ton of things I could have done better.”

The Reds have struggled to plate runners in August, which hasn’t helped. In their 11 losses this month, they have scored three runs or more just three times: Aug. 20 vs. St. Louis (10-9 loss), Aug. 15 vs. Miami (8-4) and Aug. 7 vs. Washington (5-3).

Cincinnati has been outscored 68-22 in those losses.

Even so, Lodolo struggled to adjust throughout his appearance. He attributed that, in part, to a new grip he’s using for his curveball, which is now more similar to a slider.

It was his strongest pitch on Friday, with four whiffs on six swings, and accounted for both of his strikeouts. It was just his third start back following an IL stint with a blister on his left index finger, which is what ultimately sparked the new grip.

In what was otherwise a tough day, it may have given something for Lodolo to build upon moving forward.

“I'm learning a new pitch on the fly, which I feel like I've had success with,” Lodolo said. “One thing I think I could have done better today is probably thrown that more.”