Nick Lodolo to return from IL, boost sagging Reds rotation Friday
Nick Lodolo, the Cincinnati Reds' No. 2 starter, has been on the IL since suffering a blister on his index finger during his final spring start.
PITTSBURGH – The Cincinnati Reds ’ beleaguered starting rotation gets a much needed reinforcement with the anticipated return of No. 2 starter Nick Lodolo when the team returns home for its weekend series against the Houston Astros . Meanwhile, the Reds plan to backfill for the injured Brandon Williamson in Monday’s series opener against the Cubs in Chicago by calling up Chase Petty from Triple-A Louisville for what could be one spot start.
Lodolo opened the season on the injured list because of a blister that arose in his final start of the spring, then suffered a setback during his first minor-league rehab start in April. A lengthier process that involved topicals, treatment and a “contraption” that manager Terry Francona had trouble describing but might have something to do with the pores on the left-hander’s fingertips. Lodolo got up to 79 pitches in his most recent rehab outing, a 4 1/3-inning start for Louisville on Saturday night, in which he threw “16 or 17” sliders, Francona said.
“That’s the biggest thing,” the manager said of the pitch that puts the most stress on the fingertips. “He didn’t command great early. But he got up to a pretty high pitch count.
He got a little fatigued, which is good. You kind of want to see that. “We accomplished what I think we needed to.