Things haven’t been so kind to the Cincinnati Reds of late. Left-hander Nick Lodolo joined TJ Friedl and other key players on the injured list Wednesday. The Reds put him on the 15-day IL due to a groin strain.
The move is retroactive to May 12, the day after he pitched six innings against the San Francisco Giants.
Left-hander Sam Moll was recalled in a corresponding move. Moll, 32, has scattered three hits in five scoreless innings in five relief appearances with the Reds this season. He’s 4-4 with a 3.31 ERA in 147 career appearances with the Reds and Oakland Athletics.
The #Reds today recalled from Triple-A Louisville LHP Sam Moll and placed on the 15-day injured list, retro to 5/12, LHP Nick Lodolo (left groin strain). pic.twitter.com/D8Tnv7pr2x
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) May 15, 2024
Reds Place Nick Lodolo on Injured List
It’s unclear when or how Lodolo suffered the injury. There wasn’t any indication that he wouldn’t be making his scheduled start Thursday.
Lodolo has been excellent this season, posting a 3.34 ERA, 0.943 WHIP and 43:9 K:BB through 35 innings over six starts. In 2022, he was called up to the Reds in mid-April but was sidelined due to a lower right back strain and left calf tendinitis. He was limited to 103 1/3 innings over 19 starts.
Last season, a stress reaction in his left tibia held him to only seven starts. Lodolo continued to experience discomfort in his left leg during spring training this year. It forced him to start the season on the IL and miss the first few weeks.
The Results Have Been Great for Lodolo
Despite the injuries, Lodolo’s results are great, he posted a 3.66 ERA in 2022, striking out 29.7 percent of batters faced as he kept 46 percent of balls in play on the ground. In his seven starts last year, he struggled with a 6.29 ERA, but has bounced back nicely this season.
Lodolo has thrown 35 innings in six starts, posting a 30.7 percent strikeout rate, 6.4 percent walk rate and 44.6 percent ground ball rate. For Lodolo to be injured again is unfortunate, especially with the Reds struggling of late.
Injuries Continue to Hurt the Reds
Christian Encarnacion-Strand, TJ Friedl, Matt McLain, Tejay Antone, Ian Giabut, Brandon Williamson and Alex Young are on the IL. Noelvi Marte is still serving the 80-game suspension as he will miss the first half of the season.
All the injuries are less than ideal for a Reds who has such a young core. They’re 18-24 and tied for last in the National League Central division. There’s still plenty of time to turn things around, but the absence of Lodolo will make things more challenging for the Reds.
