Oddly enough, Nick Lodolo's shaky performance is exactly why Reds should extend him

Nick Lodolo looked like his old self during Thursday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, until he didn't. Lodolo was shutting down almost every Pirates batter he faced, and once the southpaw got to the fifth inning, it all fell apart.

Lodolo got Connor Joe to ground out, but followed it up with a walk to Jared Triolo and then a strikeout to Yasmani Grandal. But a walk to the No. 9 hitter, Michael A. Taylor, and a hit batsman loaded the bases.

Bryan Reynolds infield single (though there was certainly a defensive miscue or two involved) allowed the Buccos to push across a run. Another hit batsman ended Lodolo's night, but a bases clearing double by Bryan De La Cruz off reliever Jakob Junis saddled the Reds' starter with another three earned runs. Lodolo's final line saw the lefty allow five runs on just two hit courtesy of three walks. Lodolo also struck out nine Pirates batters.

Nick Lodolo's shaky performance is exactly why Reds should extend him

Strange as this may sound, Lodolo's second-half struggles could very well help the Reds in contract negotiations this offseason. There's no doubt, when he's right, that Lodolo is arguably Cincinnati's best starter. Before his stint on the injured list due a finger blister, Lodolo was 8-3 with a 2.96 ERA and 3.62 FIP. The Texas Christian alum had accumulated 73 punch outs in 70 innings of work.

Since his return from the IL, Lodolo is 1-3 with a 7.54 ERA, but a 4.45 FIP. Lodolo is still racking up Ks as well, with 49 strikeouts in just over 45 innings pitched. Almost every single Reds fan can tell that Lodolo has had to alter his approach and/ or delivery since returning from the injured list; leading a number of fans to believe that the blister hasn't fully healed, or at the very least is impeding his grip on the baseball.

But Lodolo has proven that his legs, which were of great concern last season, are not an issue. Even his arm has been just fine through the past nine games. It's been Lodolo's command of the strike zone and an inability to effectively throw his breaking pitch that have caused the most consternation.

But if the Reds' front office could parlay Lodolo's shaky second-half into a team-friendly contract extension, they should do it. Starting pitching has become so valuable in today's game, and that was never more evident at this year's MLB trade deadline when teams set ridiculous price for mid-tier veterans.

Lodolo has the makeup of a frontline starter. Many fans will point to his injury history as reason to avoid inking him to a long-term deal, but nowadays, that's part of the deal. Pitchers are a high-risk investment, but when you've got a good one, you'd better hold on tightly. The Reds need to keep Lodolo around for the long haul.

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