Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona made a decision on Nick Lodolo ahead of Opening Day.
The Cincinnati Reds have continued shaping their rotation plans as the regular season approaches, and manager Terry Francona clarified where left‑hander Nick Lodolo will fit in the opening series against the Boston Red Sox.
Earlier this week the Reds confirmed that Andrew Abbott will take the ball on Opening Day after his breakout campaign last season that earned him an All‑Star selection.
The opportunity opened after right-handed ace Hunter Greene was scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery to remove bone chips and loose bodies from his right elbow.
“Terry Francona announces Nick Lodolo will start the second game of the season against the Red Sox on Saturday, March 28. Singer will start Sunday series finale,” reported Mike Petraglia of CLNS Media.
With Abbott set for the opener, Lodolo sliding into the second game provides a logical structure for the Reds first series of the year. The matchup against Boston will test the rotation early, and the team will rely on its 28-year-old left‑hander to continue the steady production he showed last season.
Lodolo has been part of the organization for his entire professional career. The Reds selected him seventh overall in the 2019 MLB Draft, viewing the tall southpaw as a future key piece of their pitching staff. After flashes of promise in his first few seasons that were occasionally interrupted by injuries, he finally delivered a healthy and productive campaign in 2025.
Last year proved to be one of the most complete seasons of Lodolo’s career. He made 29 appearances and posted a career‑best 3.33 ERA across 156 2/3 innings. He also recorded 156 strikeouts while throwing two complete games, including one shutout. Most importantly for Cincinnati, he stayed on the mound consistently and gave the club stability in the rotation.
That reliability will be important again this season, especially with Greene temporarily sidelined. The Reds still have plenty of talent on the pitching staff, but Lodolo’s ability to handle a full workload could help keep the rotation elite.
The Reds are also entering the season with high expectations after reaching the postseason last year. With young talent across the roster and a rotation that still features several high‑upside arms, Cincinnati is aiming to make back‑to‑back playoff appearances.
For Lodolo, getting the second start of the season is another sign of the trust the organization has placed in him. If he builds on last year’s momentum, he could once again be one of the key pitchers driving the Reds push for another postseason run.