Reds base timeline on 'common sense' as Nick Lodolo re-starts throwing

MIAMI ‒ Cincinnati Reds l eft-hander Nick Lodolo played catch Monday for the first time since a setback with his finger blister during a rehab start April 2. He had no apparent issues during a light throwing session, but the clock is ticking on how long it’ll take him to get back in a rehab game, which could determine how much he’ll have to be built back up before being ready to return from the injured list. Lodolo threw 10 pitches in his final Cactus League start March 22, then didn’t pitch in a game again until the 40-pitch rehab start last week.

Will he need just one more start? Two? Can the Reds get him up to, say, 60 pitches and activate him for an abbreviated season debut?

“Depends how long (the latest process takes),” manager Terry Francona said. “We need to use some common sense, which isn’t always the easiest thing to do. ” Neither Francona nor pitching coach Derek Johnson seemed to think Lodolo would need a lengthy rehab stretch, since he was nearly fully built up for the season until that March 22 start.

That could change quickly if the blister on his index finger prevents a quick return to the mound. The training staff is treating the blister aggressively, presumably with various topicals ‒ and also what Francona called “gadgets. ” Meanwhile, the Reds rode a pitching staff missing three key components on the IL to a 3.