Cincinnati Reds starter Nick Lodolo was having a clean night against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday. Then he wasn’t on the mound anymore.
Lodolo left the game after four innings with a left wrist contusion, the team said. He hadn’t allowed a run. He’d struck out six. He’d given up just two hits. And then he was gone, replaced by a reliever before the fifth started.
The injury happened on a play in the fourth. Lodolo fielded a ground ball and the throw from first baseman Spencer Steer hit him on the wrist. It wasn’t a fastball or a line drive. It was a routine play that went sideways. Those sometimes hurt the worst.
Lodolo walked off the field and didn’t come back. The team called it a contusion, which is just a fancy word for a bruise. But with pitchers, any wrist issue raises questions. He throws left-handed. That’s the arm he uses to drive the ball to the plate. So yeah, the Reds are probably holding their breath a little.
What it means for the Reds rotation
Cincinnati’s rotation has been a patchwork all season. Lodolo has been one of the more reliable arms in there when he’s healthy. That’s been the problem though. He missed big chunks of last season with a stress fracture in his lower leg and then a calf strain. Now this.
The Reds haven’t said anything about a timeline. They’re running tests and waiting. For now, they’ll probably plug someone in from Triple-A or push the bullpen a little harder. Neither option is ideal.
Lodolo is 25 and still finding his footing as a big league starter. He’s got swing-and-miss stuff when everything clicks. The question is whether his body will let him show it consistently.
This is one of those stories that might be nothing by Thursday. Or it might be the reason the Reds have to shuffle their rotation again. No one knows yet. The team just said they’d update when they know more.
For now, Lodolo’s wrist is sore and the Reds are hoping it’s not serious. Every team deals with injuries. This one just happens to involve a young pitcher they’re counting on.
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