Nick Lodolo’s night against the Cubs ended in the kind of familiar, frustrating way that has followed the Reds left-hander before. After Carson Kelly launched a solo homer in the top of the sixth, Lodolo began checking his finger and was pulled from the game shortly after.
The Reds later announced on the broadcast that the issue was a blister, not just a finger problem. That’s a tough development for Cincinnati, especially because blister trouble has already cost Lodolo time this season and now appears set to sideline him again.
His final line came after five innings: two runs allowed, three walks, four strikeouts, and 78 pitches. It was a short outing that started with the Reds still in position to chase a series win over Chicago, but it quickly turned into another reminder of how rough 2026 has been for this club.
The rotation was supposed to be one of Cincinnati’s biggest strengths before the season began. Instead, it has become part of the problem. The Reds have taken heat all year, and while plenty of that criticism has landed on the front office and coaching staff, the starting staff’s issues have also been shaped by bad luck.
Hunter Greene is back healthy, but the Reds have also had rookie Chase Burns pull out of the MLB All-Star Game with a minor groin issue, and Lodolo now looks headed for the injured list. It has kept manager Terry Francona and the rotation from ever really getting in sync.
Friday night with Greene on the mound hinted at what this team was supposed to look like. Saturday, with Lodolo exiting early, was another gut punch for a fan base that has seen too many of these moments already.
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Reds Fans Wont Like This Trade Deadline Pitching Rumor
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Now the calendar has turned that plan into a real decision, with a July 27 deadline looming for Ponatoski to sort out his next step. Recent coaching changes at Kentucky may have complicated the two-sport arrangement, and for the Reds, the appeal of drafting him was always tied to the possibility that he might eventually choose the diamond full-time. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Just Made One Draft Pick Fans Never Saw Coming
The Reds draft board took an unexpected turn late when they used a 17th-round pick on Northwestern dual-sport athlete Jack Lausch, a player better known around college football circles for playing quarterback. Lausch also gave Cincinnati something to think about on the baseball side in 2026, when he put together a strong season at the plate and showed enough offensive upside to make him more than just a novelty name on the list.
It fit into a draft that already leaned heavily toward infield talent, with the Reds adding Virginia shortstop Eric Becker in the second round after making their first-round choice. For a front office that came away feeling good about how the day unfolded, Lausch was the kind of late swing that can make a draft class more interesting, especially for a club that is always looking for athleticism and upside wherever it can find it. [Read more 🡒]