Nick Lodolo could be nearing a return to the Reds' starting rotation after completing his second rehab start on Saturday evening with Triple-A Louisville.
The left-hander allowed two runs over 4 1/3 innings against Omaha at Werner Park. Lodolo scattered five hits while walking two batters and notching six strikeouts on 79 pitches (45 strikes).
Most importantly, Lodolo mixed in 16 sliders -- a key test for the blister on his left index finger, as the slider is the pitch that has long given him injury trouble. Lodolo threw six sliders in his first rehab start last Sunday.
Cincinnati originally placed Lodolo on the 15-day IL at the end of Spring Training. Though the club hoped Lodolo would miss only a turn or two through the rotation, he departed his first start on his initial rehab assignment prematurely due to a flare up of the blister when he tried to throw his slider.
The 28-year-old also dealt with blister issues in 2024 and ‘25.
The Reds (20-13) are tied for second place in a crowded NL Central, building off a surprising postseason berth a year ago. Lodolo’s impending return would provide a lift to a rotation that entered play on Saturday with a 4.64 ERA that ranked seventh worst in the Majors.
Lodolo pitched to a 3.33 ERA in 29 games (28 starts) last season. His breaking ball was his most used offering among his four-pitch mix, and he limited the opposition to a .195 batting average and 40.3% swing-and-miss rate against the pitch.