Hunter Greene’s return could shift Reds’ timeline for Nick Lodolo in big way

When Nick Lodolo landed on the injured list with a blister on August 5, the Cincinnati Reds were in a precarious position. They had fallen to three games behind the final Wild Card spot, and the rotation was on its last legs.

Newly acquired starter Zack Littell provided some rays of hope, but Hunter Greene’s return from the IL is the sun itself. With the ace back on the mound, the Reds can let Lodolo take his time while keeping up with the playoff push.

Greene returned on August 13 in spectacular fashion with six scoreless innings against the Phillies, following up Brady Singer’s six scoreless on the day prior. Going into play on August 15, the Reds’ starters have a 2.56 ERA, second-best in the majors. Greene’s dominance could be the fuel that powers the staff through to the end of the season. Getting Lodolo back would simply be icing on the cake.

Hunter Greene’s return will allow the Reds to play it safe with Nick Lodolo

Giving Lodolo that time to recover is wise considering his history. The lefty has battled blisters since the 2021 season with Double-A Chattanooga. The recurring blisters have cost him about seven weeks in his career including his current stint on the IL. The two prior occurrences came just before a more significant injury (a shoulder strain and finger sprain, respectively) shut him down for the season.

Lodolo has already progressed to throwing long toss and hopefully will be able to join in the playoff hunt before too long. If he needs more time, though, the Reds are in capable hands even without Chase Burns. Nick Martinez continues to be a Swiss Army knife, and Andrew Abbott continues to be one of the best and most underrated starters in the Majors.

The Reds’ 2025 season has been a story of resilience. Greene’s path through multiple injuries back into No. 1 starter form is setting the tone for all the other players facing adversity. From Rhett Lowder’s scrapped season to Matt McLain’s year-long slump, the challenges have come from every angle. Finally, though, the Reds have a bit of luck on their side with the return of Greene. Now we can only hope that will trickle down to Lodolo and others.

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