Lodolo to follow fellow lefty Abbott in Reds' rotation to begin 2026

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Not only is a left-handed pitcher starting for the Reds on Opening Day in Andrew Abbott, but another lefty will be pitching after him in the order.

On Thursday, manager Terry Francona revealed that Nick Lodolo will be the No. 2 starter to begin the season, followed by right-hander Brady Singer. The fourth and fifth spots remain up for grabs among Rhett Lowder, Chase Burns and Brandon Williamson.

“I like putting your lefties together," Francona said. "When you go left-left, especially if it’s a night game/day game [back-to-back], you’re making the other team play some people they don’t necessarily want to play or sit people they don’t want to sit.”

Acknowledging he doesn't put too much into the order of where he pitches, Lodolo did see some benefit in following Abbott.

“I get to watch Abbott go in front of me and see how he attacks and what works and what doesn’t," Lodolo said. "There’s definitely things we do a little bit differently and our strengths and stuff like that. But we’ll take some of that and move on.”

For at least the first three-game series of the regular season vs. the Red Sox beginning March 26, the first two matchups could bode well for the Reds. Boston has several lefty-hitting regulars in its lineup, including Roman Anthony, Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu and Marcelo Mayer.

Of course, after that, the rotation order is always subject to change because of variables like injuries, skipped starts, rainouts or rescheduled doubleheaders.

“That’s the weird thing about Spring Training, you have like no game plan going into it. You just throw," Lodolo said. "But that first game, I’m going to be locked in on Abbott and what he’s doing and the scouting report.”

If the left-handed Williamson were to earn the fifth spot, Cincinnati could conceivably have three southpaws in a row to face its opponents.

Besides being left-handed, the 28-year-old Lodolo is also arguably the second-best starter in the rotation while Hunter Greene is expected to miss up to four months after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow.

• How the Reds are built to overcome Greene's injury

The 2025 season was the strongest -- and healthiest -- of Lodolo's big league career since he debuted in 2022. As he went 9-8 with a 3.33 ERA, he set single-season career marks in games (29), starts (28), innings (156 2/3) and WHIP (1.08). There were also two complete games, including a shutout.

“I think his future is extremely bright and the present also," Francona said. "I think he’s getting stronger, which is going to help him be better. It’s exciting, I think.”

Often bitten by injuries -- including three injured list stints in 2024 -- Lodolo missed limited time in '25. He was out for three weeks in August because of a blister on his left index finger, an issue that also plagued him in previous seasons.

A minor groin strain in his final regular-season start on Sept. 25 kept Lodolo from making another one, but he appeared from the bullpen for one inning on short rest three days later and also worked 1 2/3 innings of relief in the Reds' Game 2 loss vs. the Dodgers in the National League Wild Card Series.

Lodolo has worked on toughening the skin on his finger, which he hopes keeps him pitching without interruption.

“There’s been a couple of things I’m doing. Overall, it’s hard to say right now," he said. "I’ve never had it this early and wouldn’t expect to either. It’s something I think as the year goes on and you get a lot of wear on where I get the spot and everything. It’s what we’re going to have to try and battle, and hopefully it works.”

In a 9-5 Reds loss to the Dodgers on Thursday, Lodolo didn't fare as well as he did in his previous two starts. But he got to four innings while throwing 61 pitches, allowing six earned runs and six hits with no walks, a hit batter, three strikeouts and a home run.

Lodolo's fastball wasn't located well during a four-run first inning and a curveball left up to Max Muncy was slugged for a two-run homer in the third.

“I felt strong today, all the way through the four," Lodolo said. "Definitely getting closer. Pitches and everything are coming together.”