Reds reveal Nick Lodolo injury update that should ease fans' concerns

When Nick Lodolo was declared out for Opening Day, Cincinnati Reds fans feared the worst. The left-hander has dealt with a myriad of injuries throughout his career, and this latest setback will undoubtedly test the team's pitching depth.

Thankfully, it sounds as if Lodolo will not miss much time. He's already taking part in light throwing sessions, and there's a high likelihood he could be back well before for the Reds' next home stand. Lodolo's placement on the 15-day injured list was backdated until March 23, meaning he can return to the active roster during the team's upcoming road series against the Miami Marlins (April 6-9).

Nick Lodolo's stint on the Reds' IL should be short

Lodolo exited his final Cactus League start of the spring with a blister on his left index finger. He blamed the excessive heat for the injury, but this has been somewhat of a chronic issue over the past three seasons.

Lodolo missed time during the 2024 season with a blister, and altered his pitching grip. That change resulted in a finger injury that shelved the lefty for the remainder of the season. Lodolo was fully healthy throughout most of the 2025 campaign, but suffered a blister on his left index finger that landed him on the IL for three weeks at the end of August.

The Reds entered the 2026 with seven pitchers vying for a spot in the rotation. After the injuries to Lodolo and fellow first-round pick Hunter Greene, the logjam atop the Reds' rotation kind of fixed itself. Andrew Abbott drew the start on Opening Day, and Brady Singer will pitch on Saturday.

The trio of Rhett Lowder, Chase Burns, and Brandon Williamson, and the performance of those three pitchers over the next two weeks could decide who Lodolo will replace when he's back to full strength.

Starting depth is nothing to take lightly, and the Reds are a perfect example of that. Lodolo's placement on the IL forced Cincinnati to dig even deeper into their pitching ranks and they recently added Jose Franco to the active roster.

The Reds planned to enter the season with a quasi six-man rotation, but it was only expected to last a couple of weeks. If Lodolo is back after the 15-day minimum, it could line up almost exactly how the Reds initially planned.