Nick Lodolo's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo (leg) made his return to the mound during Saturday's exhibition contest against the Seattle Mariners. The left-hander was supposed to start on Friday, but had it pushed back due to the weather. Lodolo allowed two hits, walked two batters, and struck out four hitters over 2 2/3 innings of work. The Reds have already said that Lodolo will miss the opening series of the season. However, Lodolo might be able to avoid the injured list and pitch in the second series.

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo (tibia) is progressing well and will pitch in Sunday's Spring Training game, manager David Bell told the media. Although Lodolo will return to face opposing batters this weekend, he's still a few hurdles away from being fully ramped up. As a result, Bell said that Lodolo "probably isn't in the mix" to pitch in the first five regular-season games. Rather, the skipper mentioned April 9 versus the Milwaukee Brewers as a potential season debut for the former first-round pick. Lodolo managed to make just seven starts amidst injuries last year, posting a 5.79 FIP but maintaining a promising 12.32 K/9 and 2.62 BB/9. The upside is still quite apparent, so he's worth a late-round flier in fantasy baseball leagues.

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (leg) threw a two-inning simulated game in camp on Wednesday that went great, and he said his next step is pitching in a Cactus League game. "I'm good. That was another progression that I hit I'm excited," Lodolo said. A stress reaction in the 26-year-old southpaw's left tibia last year limited him to only seven starts, and he's still feeling it in his leg in spring training. However, it sounds like Lodolo is starting to turn a corner in his recovery. The Reds haven't ruled him out of being in the Opening Day rotation, but fantasy managers shouldn't get their hopes up, and the Reds will likely be cautious here. Although he's an obvious injury risk, Lodolo deserves to be stashed in deep-mixed leagues, at the very least, for his strikeout upside.

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (leg) is throwing a side bullpen session in camp on Sunday and will see a specialist for his left tibia to undergo tests on Monday. The outcome of those tests will likely determine whether he can be ready for the start of the 2024 regular season or soon thereafter. A stress reaction in Lodolo's left tibia limited him to just seven starts in 2023, but the 26-year-old southpaw is still feeling something in his leg this spring, prompting the Reds to send him for further testing. Even if the tests come back positive on his leg on Monday, fantasy managers shouldn't expect Lodolo to be in the team's Opening Day starting rotation. Still, given his high strikeout upside, Lodolo is worthy of stashing in deep-mixed leagues for rotation depth as long as his tests don't reveal something really bad.

Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell said that left-hander Nick Lodolo's (leg) recovery after throwing in camp on Thursday was "not perfect" and that he "still feels it." Lodolo is to be re-evaluated and have his leg "re-scanned," but Bell doesn't consider it a "major concern." If everything comes back OK, Lodolo could still start the 2024 regular season on time, but he would need to get into a Cactus League game by the end of next week. The 26-year-old southpaw missed most of last year due to a stress reaction in his left tibia and still isn't quite over the hump this spring. It's not what fantasy managers that were considering taking him late in drafts for rotation depth wanted to hear, but it doesn't take away from the fact that Lodolo is still a high-upside arm due to his swing-and-miss stuff when he's healthy.