Nick Lodolo Fantasy Stats

The Cincinnati Reds officially announced on Friday that they reinstated left-hander Nick Lodolo (finger) from the 15-day injured list and optioned right-hander Jose Franco to Triple-A Louisville in a corresponding move. Lodolo will make his season debut at home on Friday against the visiting Houston Astros at Great American Ballpark. While the 28-year-old southpaw makes for more of a risky fantasy option on Friday in his season debut, the former first-rounder out of TCU should be rostered in most leagues for his high-strikeout upside. Injuries, most recently blister issues on his left index finger, have kept Lodolo from reaching his true potential. In 76 big -league outings (75 starts) since making his MLB debut with the Reds in 2022, Lodolo has a 24-22 record, 4.06 ERA (4.04 FIP), 1.21 WHIP, 26.2% strikeout rate, and a 6.7% walk rate over 409 2/3 innings pitched. He's currently rostered in 89% of Yahoo leagues.

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (finger), who has been on the 15-day injured list since a blister on his left index finger ended his final spring training outing on March 22, will make his 2026 season debut on Friday against the Houston Astros. Lodolo threw 45 of his 79 pitches for strikes at Triple-A Louisville in his final minor-league rehab start and mixed in roughly 16 or 17 sliders, the pitch that causes the friction on the pad of his index finger. He expects to throw more when facing big-league hitters for the first time this year on Friday, according to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. "I'm not going to be up here with a limit," said Lodolo. Getting the left-hander from TCU back in the rotation is big for the Reds, who are missing both Hunter Greene (elbow) and Brandon Williamson (shoulder). Lodolo went 9-8 with a 3.33 ERA in 29 games in 2025 and set career-highs in starts (28), innings (156 2/3), and strikeouts (156). Injuries have limited him, but Lodolo deserves to be rostered in all fantasy baseball leagues for his strikeout upside. He's currently rostered in 88% of Yahoo leagues.

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (finger) is expected to be activated from the 15-day injured list to make his 2026 season debut on Friday at home at Great American Ballpark against the Houston Astros, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer. The 28-year-old southpaw convinced the Reds that he is ready to rejoin the big-league starting rotation after he gave up two earned runs while walking two and striking out six in 4 1/3 innings for Triple-A Louisville on Saturday in his third minor-league rehab start. Lodolo has been on the IL since Opening Day due to a recurring blister issue on his left index finger, but he looks to have put it behind him. The former seventh overall pick in 2019 out of TCU looked great in his three rehab starts, allowing just two earned runs while walking two and fanning 17 in 12 innings of work with Louisville, Single-A Dayton, and High-A Dayton. For his high-strikeout upside, Lodolo deserves to be rostered everywhere. He will be a more dicey fantasy play in his season debut on Friday against Houston, but he should be rostered in most fantasy leagues with his return on the horizon. Lodolo is rostered in 88% of Yahoo leagues.

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo (finger) has had his rehab assignment moved from Single-A Dayton to Triple-A Louisville. He is set to make one more rehab start on Saturday, with the intention of it being his final outing before making his 2026 season debut for the Reds. After missing time due to a recurring blister, the team determined that his slider grip was causing the issue on his finger. Now that his grip has been adjusted, he feels confident about his return. He last pitched on Sunday, striking out seven batters in just under six innings of work. Barring any unforeseen setbacks in this outing, he should be ready to rejoin the Reds shortly afterward.

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (finger) is set to make his next minor-league rehab start on Saturday, according to Charlie Goldsmith of FOX 19. Lodolo, who threw around 10 breaking balls in his first rehab start, is expected to up his pitch count and expand his arsenal this weekend. In his first rehab start for High-A Dayton on Sunday, the 28-year-old southpaw looked good, throwing five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts. Lodolo is working his way back from a blister on his left index finger that prevented him from being in Cincy's Opening Day starting rotation. When he's ready to return from the 15-day injured list, though, he'll be locked into a rotation spot and has plenty of strikeout upside for fantasy managers. If his outing goes well on Saturday, Lodolo could make his 2026 season debut for the Reds at some point next week. Grab Lodolo now if he's floating around your league's waiver wire. He's rostered in 88% of Yahoo leagues despite not throwing a pitch for the Reds yet this year.

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (finger) looked good in his first minor-league rehab start on Sunday with High-A Dayton, throwing five scoreless innings for a win with two hits allowed, no walks, and seven strikeouts. Lodolo was initially pulled off his first rehab assignment due to a setback with the blister on his pitching hand. The talented southpaw has been on the 15-day injured list since the start of the 2026 season, but he could be getting close to his season debut after another rehab start or two. Lodolo threw 39 of his 51 pitches for strikes on Sunday. Look for him to move up to a higher minor-league affiliate for his next rehab start, which should come later this week. When ready, the former first-rounder in 2019 out of TCU will have a starting rotation spot waiting for him in Cincinnati, and his high-strikeout upside makes him worth stashing in all fantasy baseball formats. Despite having yet to pitch for the Reds this year, Lodolo is rostered in 88% of Yahoo leagues at the moment.

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (finger) threw 31 pitches in two simulated innings in batting practice on April 17 and is scheduled to bump up to three innings on Tuesday, according to MLB.com. Lodolo is still working his way back from a blister on his left index finger that landed him on the 15-day injured list on March 25 before the start of the 2026 regular season. His timetable for a return is still to be determined, although he could be cleared to go on a minor-league rehab assignment soon if he gets through his sim game on Tuesday with flying colors. Injuries have kept the 28-year-old southpaw from reaching his true potential in the big leagues, but the former seventh overall pick in 2019 out of TCU remains worth stashing in fantasy baseball leagues because of his strikeout upside when he's healthy. The 6-foot-6, 216-pounder has struck out 26.2% of the batters he's faced in his four MLB seasons and sports an ERA just above 4.00 in 409 2/3 total innings.

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (finger) threw 31 pitches in two simulated innings during live batting practice on Friday, according to MLB.com. He's scheduled to bump up to three innings on Tuesday, April 21. Lodolo has yet to pitch for the Reds in 2026 due to a blister on his pitching hand that he developed right at the end of spring training. The 28-year-old southpaw is building up slowly and could get up to three innings next Tuesday. After that, the former TCU pitcher could get cleared to go on a minor-league rehab assignment. With plenty of boxes left to check, it's unlikely that Lodolo will be reinstated from the 15-day injured list before the end of April. Despite being on the sidelines for the first month of the season, Lodolo is rostered in 90% of Yahoo leagues for his strikeout upside when he's fully healthy. The former first-rounder has fanned 26.2% of the hitters he's faced in his first four years in the majors.

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (finger) will throw a bullpen session on Thursday, according to Charlie Goldsmith of FOX 19. Manager Terry Francona said how aggressive Lodolo gets will be determined by how he's feeling. Lodolo began the 2026 regular season on the 15-day injured list due to another blister issue, and he was forced from his minor-league rehab start last week with a setback of the blister on his left index finger. If the talented southpaw can cut it loose on Thursday, he could be cleared to make another rehab start in the minors. The 28-year-old alumnus of TCU doesn't have a firm timetable to return, but if his bullpen session goes well, he could make his season debut in Cincy's starting rotation before the end of April. Regardless of how long it takes Lodolo to get back to the big leagues, he should be stashed in an IL spot in fantasy leagues for his high-end strikeout upside. In four big-league seasons, Lodolo has struck out 26.2% of the batters he's faced.

FOX 19's Charlie Goldsmith reports that Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (finger) will meet the team on their road trip in Texas, at which point they will discuss his blister issues and the next step in his rehab. Lodolo started the 2026 regular season on the 15-day injured list with a blister on his left index finger, and he had to leave his minor-league rehab start early with Single-A Dayton in the third inning on Tuesday. Because of the setback, the 28-year-old southpaw will have a longer stay on the IL to begin the season. The good news is that Lodolo struck out four of the eight batters he faced in his rehab outing on Tuesday, throwing 40 pitches in the process. Depending on how Lodolo's finger recovers, he could still have a chance to make his season debut for the Reds before the end of April. Because of his strikeout upside, Lodolo should be stashed in all fantasy formats while he recovers.