Nick Krall Reveals What Nick Lodolo Must Fix for Reds

Pitching is the top need for the Cincinnati Reds, according to president of baseball operations Nick Krall, who spoke at the GM Meetings in Las Vegas this week, and one arm he talked about belongs to a starter who had a strong 2025 before a tough 2026.

Left-hander Nick Lodolo never got going this past season, after a blister on his left index finger put him on the injured list to open the year, and he did not make his first start until May 8.

He went back on the injured list with the same blister on July 12, came back on Aug. 11 and finished 3-6 with a 4.97 ERA over 21 starts and 108.2 innings.

Asked about Lodolo on Tuesday, Krall said the left-hander had been working on the problem and pointed to where the focus is this winter.

"He had some decent games down the stretch. He needs to get more consistent with his release point. Hopefully the offseason into spring training will help that out," Krall told reporters in Las Vegas.

That release point issue fits with how his season went.

Lodolo said back in July that much of the blister trouble was tied to his grip and that he was trying to change it, which is a hard thing to do in the middle of a season.

After returning in August, he posted a 5.48 ERA over his last nine starts, though he did throw seven innings in back-to-back September starts against the Dodgers and Cubs.

His walks went up, too, as Lodolo issued 46 walks in 108.2 innings in 2026 after walking just 31 in 156.2 innings in 2025, when he went 9-8 with a 3.33 ERA in a career-high workload.

Krall put pitching first for good reason, since Cincinnati finished 75-87 and last in the NL Central, and the staff led the majors in walks, which is a major issue to fix before 2027.

Right-hander Brady Singer also elected free agency, leaving the Reds searching for more starting pitching this offseason.

Right-hander Chase Burns is set at the top after going 15-3 with a 2.86 ERA, and left-hander Andrew Abbott made 32 starts, but the rest of the group has questions, which is why a healthy Lodolo means so much to this team.

The 2025 version of Lodolo is the one Cincinnati is counting on, and he is a big reason I think the Reds can avoid spending wildly on starters this winter.

If he gets back to that level, Cincinnati has a solid top three to build around, and the front office could put more of its winter budget toward other holes on the roster.

Lodolo will also get fresh help after the Reds hired new pitching coach Joe Torres from Cleveland, and Krall said Torres came in with a plan for moving forward.

Lodolo is arbitration eligible for 2027 and can become a free agent after next season, so this is a big year for him, and I would bet on him bouncing back as long as the finger holds up.