What to know about Nick Lodolo's rehab start, when he'll rejoin Reds

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo’s finger blister has healed enough in the past week that he’s scheduled to make a rehab start for Class A Daytona on Thursday, April 2, and, barring a setback, be ready to pitch during the April 6-9 series in Miami, manager Terry Francona said. His first eligible date to return from the 15-day injured list is April 7. Lodolo, who has a history of blisters, suffered this latest blister on his index finger during his final start of the spring on March 22.

He exited after just 10 pitches. He fared well during a throwing session exactly a week later and was to throw on the side one more time, Tuesday, before making the rehab start. Poor weather forecasts at some of the Reds’ minor-league cities, including Louisville, looked for a day or two like it could push back Lodolo’s timeline for a rehab start, which is how the Reds landed on the Daytona decision.

“We didn’t want to have him go somewhere and not pitch,” Francona said. “So we thought this was the best way to do it. ” Lodolo originally was to slot into the Reds’ opening rotation in the No.

2 spot behind Andrew Abbott. If Lodolo returns on April 8, he could land in the same spot. It’s not immediately clear how the Reds will manipulate their five-man rotation overall once Lodolo returns.