Reds Lose Another Key Player to the Injured List Again in Latest Blow

Reds Place Nick Lodolo on Injured List

It’s unclear when or how Lodolo suffered the injury. There wasn’t any indication that he wouldn’t be making his scheduled start Thursday. Lodolo has been excellent this season, posting a 3.34 ERA, 0.943 WHIP and 43:9 K:BB through 35 innings over six starts. In 2022, he was called up to the Reds in mid-April but was sidelined due to a lower right back strain and left calf tendinitis. He was limited to 103 1/3 innings over 19 starts. Last season, a stress reaction in his left tibia held him to only seven starts. Lodolo continued to experience discomfort in his left leg during spring training this year. It forced him to start the season on the IL and miss the first few weeks.

The Results Have Been Great for Lodolo

Despite the injuries, Lodolo’s results are great, he posted a 3.66 ERA in 2022, striking out 29.7 percent of batters faced as he kept 46 percent of balls in play on the ground. In his seven starts last year, he struggled with a 6.29 ERA, but has bounced back nicely this season. Lodolo has thrown 35 innings in six starts, posting a 30.7 percent strikeout rate, 6.4 percent walk rate and 44.6 percent ground ball rate. For Lodolo to be injured again is unfortunate, especially with the Reds struggling of late.

Injuries Continue to Hurt the Reds

Christian Encarnacion-Strand, TJ Friedl, Matt McLain, Tejay Antone, Ian Giabut, Brandon Williamson and Alex Young are on the IL. Noelvi Marte is still serving the 80-game suspension as he will miss the first half of the season. All the injuries are less than ideal for a Reds who has such a young core. They’re 18-24 and tied for last in the National League Central division. There’s still plenty of time to turn things around, but the absence of Lodolo will make things more challenging for the Reds.