It has been a brutally unlucky season so far for Cincinnati Reds lefty Nick Lodolo so far in 2026. First, blister issues cost him the first month of the season, and even after he returned he looked a bit lost on the mound – uncomfortable throwing his breaking pitches the way he’d used to given that it was that series of grips that had caused the blisters in the first place.
On Tuesday night against the Milwaukee Brewers, though, he finally looked as if he was right again. He held Milwaukee hitless
the first time through the order while also facing the minimum, and he was rewarded in just about the most unfortunate way possible in the 4th.
The first ‘hit’ he allowed? A 107 mph comebacker off the bat of Jackson Chourio that hit him square in his left (pitching) wrist.
There is a slight bit of good news here. He stayed in the game, for one, and despite loading the bases eventually finished the inning having allowed nary a run. However, he was still pulled after the inning as a precaution as he needed 32 pitches to get through the inning and odds are he’ll be swollen and bruised the moment the adrenaline begins to wear off.
Initial reports (and simply watching it all unfold) suggest he can’t be injured too badly, but the Reds are obviously going to take this with as many precautions as possible. As a result, Lodolo exited after 4.o IP having allowed nary a run on 2 H with a lone walk and 6 K (75 pitches).
It was the best he’s looked all season, and also the worst luck he’s had all season. Hopefully, this isn’t something that’ll become a bigger problem.
