Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo might have discovered an antidote to his chronic blister problems.
Just in time to test drive it over the final weeks of the season with an eye on making it part of the team’s competitive reset next season.
Lodolo’s 50-pitch, three-inning simulation game Friday, July 31, included 10 to 12 pitches using a new grip on his breaking ball that he and team officials hope will help avoid the blisters on his index finger that has plagued him in recent seasons.
Lodolo has missed three weeks during his second stint on the injured list because of a blister this season, after missing the first six weeks of the season. He’s 3-2 with a 4.60 ERA in 12 starts this year.
“It feels good,” he said after the sim game. “Definitely something that I’m excited about.”
Lodolo’s curveball has been critical to his career success, playing off mid-90s four-seam and sinking fastballs. The new grip seems to create more of a slurve action on the breaking ball, which he threw only in the first of his three sim innings.
“I actually threw a lot of them for strikes, so I was really happy about that,” he said. “But live BP is live BP vs. a game.
“It’s just getting comfortable with it and realizing how it’s supposed to come out of your hand,” he said, “because it’s definitely different than what you’re doing before.”
It wasn’t immediately clear what the next step in Lodolo’s rehab will be, but he said the area that blistered is “in a good spot.” And after 50 pitches in his first sim game, that could mean starting a minor-league rehab assignment in the coming days, which could mean a return to the Reds’ rotation for the final six weeks or so.
Blake Dunn to have elbow surgery
While most of the baseball world’s attention focuses on the MLB trade deadline, Reds outfielder Blake Dunn is scheduled for major elbow surgery with Dr. Keith Meister in Texas on Monday (Aug. 3).
Dunn, who’s been on the IL for the past month with what the team has called a “sprain” suffered on a throw to the plate from center field, isn’t expected to return this season.
Manager Terry Francona said the extent of the surgery won’t be known until Meister opens up the elbow to see the level of damage and whether reconstruction or an internal brace is needed.
Brandon Williamson, Graham Ashcraft injury updates
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Will Nick Lodolo’s new breaking ball be weapon for Reds in 2027?
Reporting by Gordon Wittenmyer, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Gordon Wittenmyer, Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
