Lodolo exits Minor League rehab start early due to blister flareup
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Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo, who is currently on the 15-day injured list due to a blister on his left index finger, made a rehab start for Single-A Daytona on Thursday against Jupiter. He retired the first eight batters he faced on 40 pitches (striking out four), but he had to exit the game with two outs in the third inning due to a flareup of the blister.
Lodolo was slated to throw 60-65 pitches and looked good early on. But the recurrence of the blister might delay the 28-year-old southpaw’s return to Cincinnati’s rotation after he was placed on the IL toward the end of Spring Training. He also dealt with blister issues in 2024 and ’25.
Lodolo, whom the Reds selected with the seventh overall pick in the 2019 Draft out of TCU, had a breakout season last year, posting a 3.33 ERA with two complete games (one shutout) over 29 appearances (28 starts) for Cincinnati.
It was hoped that Lodolo would be able to return when the Reds open a series against the Marlins in Miami on Monday. Cincinnati is already without ace right-hander Hunter Greene, who underwent elbow surgery last month and is not expected to return until sometime in July.
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If Lodolo misses more time than expected, it would be another blow to the starting rotation. It would also make the performance of a trio of youngsters -- Rhett Lowder, Chase Burns and Brandon Williamson -- even more important to get the rotation through in the interim.
Lowder pitched five solid innings against the Red Sox at Great American Ball Park last Sunday in his first regular season outing since 2024 -- he missed the entire ’25 campaign due to right elbow and left oblique injuries. The 24-year-old right-hander gave up two runs on three hits, walking two and striking out five in a 3-2 Reds victory.
The 23-year-old Burns was impressive over five innings in his season debut against the Pirates at Great American Ball Park on Monday, yielding just one hit while walking three and striking out seven to pick up his first Major League win.
Williamson struggled in his season debut, surrendering six runs over 4 2/3 innings against Pittsburgh on Tuesday. He has a 4.63 ERA in 28 career appearances (27 starts) after missing the 2025 campaign due to Tommy John surgery.