The Reds placed starter Nick Lodolo on the 15-day injured list with a blister on his left index finger. Reliever Yosver Zulueta is up from Triple-A Louisville to fill the active roster spot.
Lodolo left last night’s start at Wrigley Field in the second inning. He has dealt with blister issues in the past, including one on his index finger that cost him a couple weeks last season. Manager Terry Francona indicated the history played a role in the team’s decision to put him on the shelf (ESPN link). There’s no indication he’ll be out beyond the minimum stint.
Aside from a three-day stay on the paternity list, this is Lodolo’s first absence of the season. The 27-year-old southpaw has a 3.05 ERA across 23 starts. He has recorded a solid 23.6% strikeout rate against a tidy 4.6% walk percentage while logging a career-high 129 2/3 innings. This has easily been the best season for the former seventh overall pick. Lodolo has pitched at a top-of-the-rotation level of late, turning in a sub-2.00 ERA while striking out 27% of opponents over his past nine starts.
Cincinnati will need to skip at least two of Lodolo’s turns through the rotation. They’re not going to replace his recent production but are well equipped to withstand a brief absence. The Zack Littell trade was going to push Nick Martinez to the bullpen. The veteran swingman can stick in the rotation for another turn. Hunter Greene could be back after that, but he’ll need at least one more rehab start with Louisville this week. Greene has been out since the beginning of June with a groin strain.
Neither Greene or Lodolo can make it through a whole season without time on the IL, often significant time..
Lowder has missed this season, his 2nd in pro ball.
Martinez will be a free agent.
This is Burns first season and he has an innings limit.
Littell just walked in the door.
Aguiar and Williamson had TJ, missed the year.
Miley is likely done.
Abbott may be the only one they can count on right now.
This so called pitching depth isn’t as strong as they are touting.
Add that to the fact the bullpen is on fumes, and they didn’t address that just like the outfield.
It doesn’t look good long term the rest of the way. I give these kids and Tito all the kudos in the world being where they are right now with no help from upstairs.
It’s not so called when you list the depth available to them. You can be consistently obtuse and pessimistic to a fault, or accept that the Reds aren’t special and this happens to every team nearly every year.
You made my point during your Twitter rant without realizing it. But the alter worshippers just like to rant and accept mediocrity. That’s what Phil and Bob count on.
The teams that consistently win are prepared for it, especially knowing the typical health status of their own players. Hoping and wishing don’t cut it.
There’s a big reason why they haven’t won a playoff series for 35 years.
Their comment was like 1/3 as long as yours, how does that make it a rant ?
Abbott, Littell, Martinez, Singer and Burns… yeah their depth behind Lodolo and Greene is terrible. Take your clown show and hit the road bud.
This is plenty to bridge the gap when the return of Greene and Lodolo seems imminent
Your narrative is always the same, the facts be damned.
As others have pointed out, you provide an extensive list of starting pitching and then complain that they lack depth.
They just acquired Littell at the trade deadline, and he pitched seven strong innings last night with 8 Ks while allowing only 1 R.
Adding Littell allowed them to slide Martinez into the bullpen, so yes, they did address the bullpen at the deadline. Not to mention adding Andujar to address the outfield/their need for quality hitting against LHP.
Those moves are looking, for the moment, much better than the Cubs two pitching additions at the deadline.
Lmao mlbtr made this happen by mentioning his inability to stay on for a season in the deadline post this morning.
I don’t know if this is going to be the Reds year, but they are going to have an exciting rotation next year that should be both effective and deep. Of course, as always, it depends on health. But the talent is undeniable. Greene, Abbott, Lodolo, Singer, Burns, Lowder, Williamson, Aguiar, Chase Petty, Ty Floyd. It’s an exciting young group.
Unless they have the offense to score mote than three runs a game and a bullpen to protect leads, it won’t matter. Small market teams windows are short.
That’s why the front office inaction to put these kids over the top annoys me so much. I can see where this team can go if they had help in the right places, but they are not getting it.
Now is a great time to pick a team more to your liking. I was going to say hop off the bandwagon but you were never on it. Always running along side with your shrill whining.
They need to break through this year. A chaotic Central is good for the soul