The Cincinnati Reds got a 4-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night, and while the trade deadline chatter keeps circling, the bigger immediate news came on the injury front.
Jim Day delivered updates on two key arms, starting with Nick Lodolo. The left-hander has already completed one bullpen session after the blister problems on his hand resurfaced, and he’ll also be working with a new grip, especially on his slider. Lodolo is set to try a few different grips as he looks for a fix to the blister issue that has followed him throughout his career.
Lodolo had been drawing plenty of attention in trade discussions before the blister trouble returned, but the focus now is simply getting him back on the mound.
Tony Santillan also appears to be trending in the right direction. The right-hander had a rough start to the season, but over his last five outings before going on the injured list with an oblique strain, he allowed just one run in 5.2 innings.
Santillan told Day he feels ahead of schedule, and Day reported that he’s already throwing from 75 feet on flat ground with no issues. He has another scan set for next Friday, and if that goes well, he’ll ramp up his work as he tries to return to the bullpen.
All of this comes with the Reds still hanging around the Wild Card race. After Friday’s win, they’re six games back of the final National League Wild Card spot, though the path won’t be simple.
The front office’s next move may come soon enough. President of baseball operations Nick Krall said the team will take another look at the roster after this weekend’s series in St. Louis, a sign that offers are being heard and changes could be coming next week.
In Other News...
Reds May Have Found The Deadline Arm They Can't Realistically Get
The Reds are still shopping for controllable starting pitching as the trade deadline approaches, and one name from Seattle has quickly surfaced as the kind of arm that fits both the need and the timeline. Cincinnati wants help it can keep beyond this season, and the appeal of a young starter who has taken a real step forward this year is obvious for a club trying to stabilize the rotation without renting a short-term fix.
The problem is that Seattle is in no hurry to move a pitcher it values, especially with the kind of depth that gives it leverage in talks. For Cincinnati, that means any serious pursuit could require a package built around multiple pieces, and the longer the Mariners hold firm on price, the harder it gets for the Reds to turn a good fit into a realistic deal. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Suddenly Have A Trade Deadline Problem Fans Feared
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For a team that may be leaning toward a softer sell, the timing is awkward because Steer is hardly the only player drawing interest. Tyler Stephenson and Brady Singer are among the other Reds who have been tied to deadline speculation, and the front office has to balance present-day health with whatever market value it hopes to preserve over the next few days. [Read more 🡒]
Reds May Be Getting Pushed Toward A Eugenio Surez Decision
The Nationals third-base picture changed quickly after Boston sent Connelly Early to Washington for Curtis Mead, a move that opened the door for prospect Brady House to be recalled and left a clear vacancy at the hot corner. For Cincinnati, it is the sort of development that matters because Eugenio Surez has become one of the more obvious names to watch if the Reds decide to move expiring-contract players before the August 3 trade deadline.
Surez has also given any interested club a reason to keep calling, thanks to a recent power burst that has him producing like the middle-of-the-order bat contenders covet. Washington fits the profile of a team that could use a short-term answer at third base, but for the Reds the larger question is whether that kind of fit is enough to justify dealing a slugger who could still bring back only a modest prospect package. [Read more 🡒]