The Cincinnati Reds are facing a tough start to the season. Pitcher Nick Lodolo will join Hunter Greene on the 15-day injured list. Greene recently had surgery on his elbow to remove bone chips, which means he could miss most of the first half of the season.
Lodolo’s situation is a little less serious. He has a blister on his index finger that forced him to leave his last start after just 10 pitches. Luckily, this injury can be backdated for three days, so if all goes well, he might be back in play just 13 days into the season.
This isn’t the first time Lodolo has dealt with blisters. This is the third consecutive year he’s ended up on the injured list because of this issue. He faced a minor absence in 2024 and was out for about three weeks last August.
With Lodolo sidelined, Andrew Abbott will make his Opening Day start against the Red Sox. Originally, Lodolo was set to pitch the second game, followed by Brady Singer in the finale. Now, it looks like Singer will start on Saturday, with Rhett Lowder stepping in for the last game of that series.
Manager Terry Francona recently confirmed that Lowder, along with Chase Burns and Brandon Williamson, has made the team. Initially, the Reds weren’t looking to have a six-man rotation, but with Lodolo out, they might need to adjust. This creates space in the bullpen, which could mean seeing Kyle Nicolas return, or possibly Julian Aguiar or Chase Petty getting a chance for a long relief role.
In the world of sports, injuries can set the tone for a team’s season. According to a recent survey from the Sports Injury Research Network, nearly 30% of MLB pitchers suffer from finger injuries annually, and blisters are a common culprit. With teams and players increasingly looking for preventative measures, Lodolo’s recurrence raises questions. Experts suggest that better grip management and training techniques could help reduce these issues.
Overall, the Reds have their work cut out for them, but challenges are part of the game. Fans will be keenly watching how this rotation shapes up as the season unfolds.
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