The Cincinnati Reds are dealing with injury concerns of late. Yesterday, outfielder TJ Friedl landed on the 10-day injured list for the third time this season with a hamstring issue. Left-hander Nick Lodolo will be placed on the 15-day IL with a left finger blister. Lodolo battled the blister issue in his last start against the Boston Red Sox and now the Reds will give him time to let the finger heal. He was the probable starter for Friday against the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Reds will call up right-handed reliever Yosver Zulueta who will be used for bullpen depth in the short term.
The #Reds today recalled from Triple-A Louisville RHP Yosver Zulueta and placed on the 15-day injured list, retro to 6/24, LHP Nick Lodolo (left finger blister). pic.twitter.com/pjr34ZkOhE
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) June 25, 2024
Nick Lodolo Out with a Blister Issue, Call Up Zulueta
Trainers did their best to patch up Lodolo’s finger but finished his shortest and least effective start of the season. Lodolo went 4 2/3 innings and tied a season-high with four runs, allowed five hits and a season-high four walks with three strikeouts.
“It really affected him mostly on the curveball, Reds manager David Bell said on Sunday. “He was able to throw some good ones. Without his best pitches, that was a pretty good effort right there. Today was a little bit more challenging for him.”
Even the smallest injury like a blister can cause problems for pitchers. Lodolo is no stranger to this who missed three weeks because of a blister in 2021 while he was in Double-A.
“That one was way worse,” Lodolo said. “We’re obviously trying not to have it get there. It definitely affects you a little bit. I don’t want to make any excuses, I want to take the ball. I just tried to battle through it and just use what I could.”
Lodolo is 8-3 with a 2.96 ERA in 12 starts this season. Graham Ashcraft, the struggling right-hander, is a possible option to return to the rotation to take Lodolo’s spot on Friday in St. Louis. Ashcraft is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA over starts for Triple-A Louisville. He had a 5.05 ERA in 12 starts with the Reds prior to his demotion.
Injuries have been playing a role so far this season for the Reds. Each of Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Matt McLain, and Alex Young are on the IL. On top of that, Noelvi Marte is still serving his 80-game suspension which ends on June 27.
Main Photo: © Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
