Nick Lodolo looked sharp today in the first of two planned Triple-A rehab starts. The Reds southpaw allowed one run in five innings and 77 pitches of work, while striking out eight and allowing two hits and three walks. After missing most of the 2023 season due to a stress reaction in his left tibia, Lodolo was still feeling some leg soreness this spring, so the Reds started him on the 15-day injured list in order to better ease Lodolo’s path back to action. Assuming he is feeling healthy after today’s outing and his next rehab start, Lodolo is slated to make his season debut for the Reds on April 10.
More on other pitchers working towards getting healthy….
- Edward Cabrera also began the season on the 15-day IL, as the Marlins righty was sidelined with an impingement in his throwing shoulder. As noted by MLB.com, Cabrera threw 39 pitches in a intrasquad scrimmage game earlier this week and a 20-pitch bullpen session on Friday, so the next step is a minor league rehab assignment that begins with a Triple-A start today. It isn’t yet known how many rehab outings Cabrera might need before he is activated, though of the Marlins’ multiple injured starters, he appears closest to a return. Braxton Garrett is slated to throw a bullpen session today as he works his way back from his own shoulder impingement, and Garrett intends to be back in action before the end of April. El Extra Base’s Daniel Alvarez-Montes (X link) notes that Eury Perez threw 20 pitches in a bullpen session today, with Perez on the road to recovery after being waylaid by elbow soreness in Spring Training.
- While rehab starts are about getting comfortable and working out pitches rather than pure results, John Means had a shaky showing in first rehab start today with Triple-A Norfolk. The Baltimore Sun’s Matt Weyrich was among those to relay the news that Means gave up seven runs on six hits and a walk over the 32-pitch outing. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde told MASNsports.com’s Roch Kubatko and other reporters yesterday that Means’ is “going to be close to 30 days” in Norfolk, as in the maximum length for rehab assignments. Means missed almost all of the 2022 and 2023 seasons recovering from Tommy John surgery, and the O’s didn’t include him on their playoff roster due to what was reported as elbow soreness at the time. As Kubatko notes, the Orioles are now referring to the injury as a left forearm strain, which only adds to the extreme caution Means and the O’s are taking in slowly ramping up the southpaw’s workload.
- A sprain in Kyle Bradish’s right UCL created concerns that Bradish might also miss an extended amount of time, but the Orioles right-hander seems to be making good progress as he is also taking a careful approach to his rehab. As relayed to Kubatko and other media, Bradish threw all of his pitches over a 35-pitch bullpen session yesterday. While he “feels really good” in the aftermath of this bullpen, Bradish and Hyde didn’t commit to any kind of timeline about when Bradish will start building towards a return to the active roster.
Hopefully we will finally see a healthy Nick Lodolo. The question will be if he still is a four or five inning pitcher like most of them or can actually give them some needed length.
My highest hope to give them the innings is Graham Ashcraft. He’s the one I’m hoping makes some real strides.
I thought Ashcraft should have started today. The last thing they needed was another guy who couldn’t get through the fifth inning, but that was why the starting pitching should have been addressed further.
They are already showing they will burn out the bullpen again with this bunch. But you can’t tell some people the truth before it happens.
If Lodolo goes deep into his starts in April, May, and June; he will be shut down or on strick innings limits by August.
You talk out of both sides of your mouth. You say they are great where they are in starting pitching and now you say Lodolo will be shut down on innings limits if he pitches like a starting pitcher should.
Just fact- no way they extend Lodolo 150+ innings this year. That’s just irresponsible. He is obviosly a SP ,but allowing him to go deep in games in the first half will limit his availability in the 2nd half.
The word is “strict.”
Correction accepked.
LOL!
Lodolo could be the best pitcher on this staff, but we won’t know until he gets and stays healthy. The Reds were limiting him to five innings today, so it’s a good sign that he got through five. This is a deep staff and could be quality if a couple of the youngsters progress this year.
All these teams looking for pitching ……. Paul Blackburn is once again the one starter who gives the Oakland A’s a chance to win. Sonny Gray, Jesus Luzardo, A.J. Puk, Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas …. Why is Paul Blackburn still an Oakland A?
Paul Blackburn is probably wondering the same thing.
The price (in prospects) is too high. Teams want to see what options they have (in house), before paying through the nose for pitching that may not even get them into postseason play.
Blackburn won’t cost too much
They ask for the moon from other teams just to trade guys to the Braves for peanuts.
AJ sucks lol Manaea is buns too. Luzardo he’s a real talent
You forgot or left off Cole Irvin.
I think I’m coming around on what all those Giants fans who were saying that it made sense for the Marlins to trade one of Luzardo, Cabrera or Garrett for Joey Bart. I’m thinking let’s do it! Come on let’s get it done! Let’s get Joey Bart to Miami! Let’s meet the demands of those Giants fans!
Oh wait a minute…