Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (finger) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to start on Tuesday against the visiting Colorado Rockies. Lodolo is returning from a blister on one of his fingers on his left hand after missing the last two weeks. The 26-year-old southpaw will be a bit more risky for fantasy managers in his first start back, especially after he skipped a minor-league rehab assignment, but the matchup against Colorado in Cincy will be too good to pass up in most leagues. Consider him a must-start with a lower ceiling due to what will likely be a lower pitch count in his first start off the IL. Lodolo has been nails for the Reds this year, going 8-3 with a 2.96 ERA and 1.07 WHIP, even though his 25.1% strikeout rate is the lowest of his three seasons in the big leagues to date.
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo (finger) threw 20 pitches to hitters in a live batting practice session before Wednesday's game against the New York Yankees in the Bronx. All was considered to have gone well, and Lodolo is expected to throw one more bullpen session before it's decided if he will be ready for activation from the injured list to start for the Reds. However, manager David Bell does feel that Lodolo is on track to be ready to return from a blister on his left finger by July 9, when Cincinnati hosts the Colorado Rockies at the Great American Ball Park. The 26-year-old southpaw was enjoying a breakout season before heading to the IL, registering a 2.96 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 73 strikeouts and 19 walks over 70 innings.
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Nick Lodolo (finger) was placed on the 15-day injured list with a blister on his right finger. The Reds called up right-hander Yosver Zulueta from Triple-A Louisville in a corresponding move, retroactive to Monday. The left-hander was emerging as a surprise for fantasy managers as Lodolo has an (8-3) record and a 2.86 ERA in 70 innings while striking out 73 with a 1.07 WHIP. Graham Ashcraft is positioned for a call-up to cover Lodolo's spot in the rotation later this week. Ashcraft owns a 5.05 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, and a 49: 21 K: BB across 62 1/3 innings in 2024, making him mainly a streamer in deep-league formats if he replaces Lodolo in Cincinatti's rotation. Zulueta is (2-0) with a 2.93 ERA in 23 appearances with Louisville and has yet to make his big league debut. Fantasy managers hope Lodolo has a minimum stay on the injured list and resumes his breakout campaign.
Nick Lodolo Walks Season-High Four, Managing Blister
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo's (finger) pitching in Sunday's start against the visiting Boston Red Sox was impacted by a blister on his index finger. "The feeling for the ball was not the same, but it's not impacting me a ton. Definitely a little bit. I'll work to get it right", Lodolo said following the game. Limited to just 76 pitches on Sunday against Boston, Lodolo gave up three earned runs on five hits and a season-worst four walks. It's too early to tell if this issue will affect the 26-year-old southpaw's status for Saturday's scheduled appearance against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals, but it's certainly something for the Reds and fantasy managers to monitor this week. Lodolo now has a 2.96 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 73 strikeouts and 19 walks over 70 innings in Cincy's rotation this year.
Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo turned in a quality start on the way to earning the win in a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Friday. Lodolo allowed one run on four hits over six innings while striking out seven and walking two to help lead the Reds to the win. The 26-year-old lefty has now made nine starts this season, posting a 6-2 record, 2.92 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 56 strikeouts over 52 1/3 innings of work. Lodolo has proven his worth as a quality fantasy starting pitcher and should be locked into lineups whenever he takes the mound. His next scheduled start is set for Wednesday at home against the Cleveland Guardians.
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo (groin) improved to 4-2 in Monday's 3-1 win over the Cardinals. Lodolo, who was activated from the 15-day injured list earlier in the day after recovering from a groin strain, pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing one run on five hits (including a solo home run) and no walks with three strikeouts over 81 pitches. This was very encouraging for the 26-year-old and fantasy managers, as Lodolo has pitched well this season with a 3.12 ERA and a 10.26 K/9 rate in seven starts and 40 1/3 IP. The former high-end fantasy prospect had a poor, injury-shortened 2023 season after a promising rookie season, so it is nice to see him back on the right track. Lodolo will look to keep things going in his next start, which is projected to be a decent matchup at the Cubs.
The Cincinnati Reds reinstated left-hander Nick Lodolo (groin) from the 15-day injured list on Monday and optioned right-hander Carson Spiers to Triple-A Louisville in a corresponding move. Lodolo will return from a groin strain to make the start on Memorial Day at home at Great American Ballpark to face the visiting St. Louis Cardinals. The 26-year-old southpaw was able to return after the minimum 15 days on the injured list without going on a minor-league rehab assignment, so he might be a little limited in terms of pitch count in his first start back. However, he's still an attractive fantasy starter on Monday after posting a 3.34 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 43 strikeouts and nine walks in his first 35 innings in 2024 before getting hurt. The Cardinals rank just 23rd in the league with a .675 team OPS and are tied for 16th with 436 strikeouts on the year.
Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (groin) had a successful bullpen session on Wednesday and will throw again on Saturday. Lodolo is aiming to come off the 15-day injured list and return to Cincy's starting rotation on Monday to face the St. Louis Cardinals. As long as the 26-year-old southpaw doesn't have a setback in his next bullpen session on Saturday, fantasy managers should be ready to throw him back into their starting lineups in a favorable matchup to kick off next week. Lodolo landed on the 15-day IL due to a left-groin strain that wasn't very serious, which is why he didn't require a minor-league rehab assignment. The former seventh overall pick out of TCU in 2019 should be rostered in all fantasy leagues for his strikeout upside. He was looking good this year before his injury, going 3-2 with a 3.34 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 43 K's in 35 innings.
Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (groin) has a long bullpen session scheduled for the next day or two, according to manager David Bell. The next steps/return plan will be revealed after Lodolo throws his bullpen this week. Lodolo was placed on the 15-day injured list with a groin injury and will be eligible to return on May 27. The 26-year-old southpaw has been optimistic that he'll be back in Cincy's rotation when eligible, but we'll have to see if that comes to fruition. In order for that to happen, Lodolo might have to skip a minor-league rehab assignment. The former seventh overall pick in 2019 out of TCU pitched in only seven games in 2023 due to a stress fracture in his leg. In six starts so far this year, he has a career-best 3.34 ERA and 0.94 WHIP with nine walks and 43 strikeouts in 35 innings. For his strikeout upside alone, Lodolo deserves to be stashed in all fantasy leagues.
Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (groin) was placed on the 15-day injured list with a left-groin strain on Wednesday. Lodolo last pitched on Saturday in a loss to the San Francisco Giants, when he allowed four earned runs on five hits in six innings. He felt the injury following a side bullpen session before that appearance. Over six starts in 2024, Lodolo has gone 3-2 with a solid 3.34 ERA and 0.94 WHIP while striking out 43 with nine walks in 35 innings. It's not considered a major injury, but the Reds wanted to put him on the IL as a precaution, especially since he made just seven starts in 2023 with a stress fracture in his left tibia. Fantasy managers should keep the former first-rounder stashed in all fantasy formats for his high-strikeout upside. The Reds haven't named a replacement for Lodolo's start on Thursday against the Dodgers, but swingman Nick Martinez is expected to get "significant innings" on Thursday, according to manager David Bell.
