The Cincinnati Reds officially placed left-handed starter Nick Lodolo on the injured list Tuesday afternoon after he exited Monday night’s game early due to a finger blister. In a corresponding move, the team recalled right-handed reliever Yosver Zulueta from Triple-A Louisville to reinforce the bullpen.
Lodolo was pulled in the second inning after feeling sudden discomfort in his left index finger. He explained the blister appeared without warning during a pitch to the Cubs’ Justin Turner.
“It really just popped up,” Lodolo said. “I struck out [Rodolfo] Castro and didn’t feel anything. But when I threw a slider to Turner, it felt like the skin ripped. I looked down and saw a bubble filled with fluid. I’ve torn blisters before, and it takes much longer to heal, so I thought it was best to stop right away.”
The decision reflects both caution and experience for Lodolo, who dealt with a similar issue in 2024 that cost him multiple starts.
Before the injury, Lodolo had been enjoying a breakout season, anchoring the Reds’ rotation with an 8-6 record, a 3.05 ERA, and 124 strikeouts across 129 2/3 innings. His absence is a tough blow for a Reds team in the thick of the playoff race, but the organization hopes an early shutdown will prevent a longer-term setback.
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