Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona had an update on left-hander Nick Lodolo.
The Cincinnati Reds are off to a 9-7 record through their first two weeks of the season. They have done it without one of their most important arms, as left-hander Nick Lodolo remains on the 15-day injured list with a recurring blister on his left index finger.
It is an issue that has followed him for three straight seasons and once again disrupted what the Reds hoped would be a clean, uninterrupted start to 2026. The injury resurfaced during his final spring training start, and then Lodolo suffered a setback in early April during a rehab outing in the minors.
He left the game in the third inning after 40 pitches when the blister flared up again. Fortunately, Lodolo has continued to throw and has made progress since then and Francona shared another positive update on Sunday before Cincinnati's game against the Los Angeles Angels.
“Francona Sunday: Nick Lodolo ‘making good progress’ throws a side today. Could throw live BP mid-week,” reported Mike Petraglia of CLNS Media. For a Reds team that has been cautious with Lodolo’s recovery, hearing that he is trending upward is a meaningful development.
Lodolo returned to throwing bullpen sessions last week, but the Reds have not placed a firm timeline on his return. The team has tried multiple treatment methods to manage the blister, which is tied to the grip he uses on his slider. That pitch is his best weapon, so altering it is not a realistic option, making the situation even more frustrating for both Lodolo and the organization.
This latest setback is especially disappointing because Lodolo finally stayed healthy in 2025 and delivered the best season of his four-year career. He posted a 3.33 ERA with 156 strikeouts across 156 2/3 innings, emerging as a stabilizing force in Cincinnati’s rotation. The Reds were counting on him to anchor the staff again this year, particularly with Hunter Greene also sidelined.
Despite the injuries, Cincinnati’s pitching has held up reasonably well, but the offense has once again been the problem. Getting Lodolo back healthy would be a major boost, especially if the Reds hope to stay competitive in the National League Central.
For now, the focus remains on managing the blister and avoiding another setback. If Lodolo can progress to live batting practice this week, it would mark his biggest step forward since the injury resurfaced. The Reds need him, and any sign of progress is a welcome one as they wait for their left-hander to return to the mound.