GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Nick Lodolo’s final Cactus League tuneup before the Reds break camp in Arizona lasted 10 pitches after the left-hander exited his start against the Guardians on Sunday due to a blister on his left index finger.
In the first inning, Lodolo threw a 1-0 changeup for a strike to Guardians third baseman José Ramírez. He appeared uncomfortable, which prompted a visit by a trainer and manager Terry Francona. After a brief conversation, Lodolo exited the game.
“They popped [the blister] over in the training room and drained some of it,” Francona said after the Reds’ 8-2 loss to the Guardians. “We'll take the next couple days. Because of his history, we're gonna have to see. There's obviously some apprehension. So we'll see.”
Lodolo is slated to start Saturday vs. the Red Sox in the second game of the regular season. He has dealt with left index blister issues previously in his career. In 2024, he went on the injured list due to one on June 25 and was activated on July 9. This past season, he went on the IL with the same issue on Aug. 5 and was activated on Aug. 27.
Lodolo’s early exit obviously was the last thing the Reds wanted to see Sunday. If the blister issue delays him out of the gate, the club has some options with its rotation configuration.
The Reds were set to open the season with six starting pitchers on their 26-man roster, in Opening Day starter Andrew Abbott, Lodolo, Brady Singer, No. 4 prospect Rhett Lowder, Chase Burns and Brandon Williamson. The plan was not a six-man rotation, but Lowder, Burns and Williamson were slated for a tandem situation in which they would pitch every five days and not out of the bullpen.
There is some depth here, and the Reds can move their other starters up in the rotation order as needed. Friday's off-day also offers some flexibility.
“We don't want to lose anybody,” Francona said. “If we do, nobody's gonna feel sorry for us. We'll figure it out. I always feel like that. We'll figure it out.”
Williamson doesn't appear to be a candidate to move up in the rotation order. Francona noted the lefty is set to stay back in Arizona to pitch on Wednesday. Williamson missed all of 2025 recovering from Tommy John surgery, and the Reds want to keep him on a routine as he makes his return to game action.
"With the off-day, we could move other guys up," Francona said. "Probably not him."
Singer is slated to make his first regular-season start Sunday against Boston. Given he would be on normal rest, he could be one candidate to move up. The 29-year-old is set to start Monday in the Reds’ exhibition game against the Brewers at American Family Field.
Singer left his start vs. the Rockies on Wednesday due to a blister on his right index finger, but he caught it before it broke.