CINCINNATI -- A left index finger blister is one injury that doesn't seem to run out of sequels for Nick Lodolo.
The Reds starting pitcher made an abrupt exit from Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Cubs in the sixth inning because of another blister. Lodolo had just given up a game-tying home run to Carson Kelly when head trainer Sean McQueeney and manager Terry Francona came to the mound.
“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.”
It's likely that Lodolo will have to go back on the injured list.
“I think that’s very probable," manager Terry Francona said. “It bubbled up pretty good. He felt so good about where he was with that, with all the things they were doing, so I know he’s really frustrated right now.”
It will be the second time this season that a blister has sidelined Lodolo. Another one developed on the same finger on March 22 during his final Spring Training start.
Lodolo, who has endured chronic blister issues throughout his career, looked at his finger after he went to a 2-0 count against Kelly, but he kept going. The next pitch was driven to center field for the homer that made it a 2-2 game.
“It was the sixth. In warmups, I threw a pitch and kind of felt it," Lodolo said. "Then I didn’t see anything, so I threw those three pitches to Kelly. After the first one, I was like, ‘Yeah, that’s that same feeling.’”
Lodolo didn't want to stop pitching even though he felt something on the pitches preceding the homer.
“You’re competing out there and you don’t want to think that’s what’s happening," he said. "Yeah, I can feel it but I also looked and I didn’t see anything. After I threw that next one, that’s when I knew.”
In five-plus innings, Lodolo allowed two runs and five hits with three walks and four strikeouts.
Caleb Ferguson replaced Lodolo on the mound and was the first of five Reds relievers who patched together the rest of the game. Ferguson gave up two hits in the sixth, including an RBI double to left-center field by Ian Happ that allowed Chicago to take the lead.
Lodolo, who did not debut this season until May 8, is 3-2 with a 4.60 ERA in 12 starts. He was on the IL for a blister in 2024 and '25, and also missed time in the Minors with the issue in '21.
The latest blister came just as Lodolo seemed to be finding a groove again after some bumpy starts to begin his season. Entering the night, he had allowed one run in 15 innings over his previous three starts. Last Sunday, he pitched six innings for a victory over the Orioles.
Earlier on Saturday, another Reds starter revealed a minor injury when Chase Burns pulled out of Tuesday's All-Star Game in Philadelphia because of a tight right groin. However, Burns is still expected to make his next start for Cincinnati on July 21 at Seattle.
Lodolo's next turn in the rotation was to come on July 18 vs. the Rockies at Colorado. Without him, the Reds will likely turn to Rhett Lowder to fill his place in the rotation. The right-handed Lowder was moved from starting into a bullpen role when Hunter Greene was activated from the IL on July 4.