Reds Starting Pitcher Nick Lodolo Still Searching for Answers After Latest Setback

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo started for the Daytona Tortugas, the Reds' Low-A minor league affiliate, on Thursday night. He was scheduled to throw 60-65 pitches, but he left after just 2 2/3 innings due to his blister issue popping back up.

It's been frustrating to the Reds' front office and fans, but Lodolo is just as frustrated.

On Friday, Lodolo spoke with the media and shared his frustration about the whole situation.

"It’s frustrating," Lodolo told Charlie Goldsmith of Charlie's Chalkboard. "I thought it was in the clear. The 40th pitch, it came back up. We’ll get a plan put together. I’ve tried (pitching through it). It doesn’t go well in multiple ways. I’ll start playing catch, hopefully, in the next day or two."

"The main goal is I’ve got to get back to where I can even compete at this level. We’ll take it day by day and hopefully get back to that. All the quote-unquote known remedies, I’ve tried. (The grip) is something we really don’t want to change. Not just myself, the staff too."

With Hunter Greene out until at least July, the Reds need Lodolo to get healthy and lead the rotation.

No Easy Solution

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Nick Lodolo (40) throws a pitch in the first inning of a Cactus League game between the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, at | Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

While it's easy to assume that the Reds' training staff or Lodolo could come up with a solution, his comments to the media on Friday show there isn't an easy one. He's tried the remedies, but the blisters keep coming back.

For now, it seems like he will simply have to be patient and let it heal and hope it doesn't keep coming back.

A Grip Change?

You can understand why Lodolo and the staff don’t want to mess with the grip on his best pitch, but if it’s going to keep costing him starts and weeks at a time, it might be something they have to reconsider.

The best ability is availability, and Lodolo hasn't been consistently available for the Reds throughout his career.

If you told me that if Lodolo changed his grip and he'd never miss another start to due a blister, I'd probably sign up for that and I think a lot of Reds fans would as well. Obviously, it's not that simple.

Rehardless, the Reds need Lodolo to get healthy.

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