Nick Lodolo Injury Update
Reds lefty Nick Lodolo was forced to leave Monday’s game against the Cubs at Wrigley Field with two outs in the second inning due to a blister on his left index finger. The situation was immediately obvious on the mound: after a first-pitch strike to Justin Turner, Lodolo looked down at his finger and called time. He signaled for Reds manager Terry Francona and the training staff, who wasted no time pulling him to prevent further damage. This cautious approach comes after Lodolo’s previous battles with blisters, including a stint on the injured list last season for a similar issue.
In a post shared by @Mike_Kurland on X, it was suggested that Reds pitcher Nick Lodolo exited the game early due to a blister issue. This unexpected departure adds to the team's pitching concerns, especially with Lodolo just finding his rhythm on the mound.
After the game, Lodolo explained, “It really kind of just came up. The pitch to Castro, I struck him out, didn’t feel anything. I threw a slider to Turner, and it felt like the skin ripped on my finger. When I looked down, there was a bubble under there and a whole bunch of fluid. Before I throw another pitch and rip it, I thought it was best to stop because I’ve done that in the past and it takes a lot longer to heal”. Chatterbox Sports (@CBoxSports) reported on X that Nick Lodolo exited in the second inning due to a suspected blister issue.
How Did the Nick Lodolo Injury Happen?
This isn’t an unusual injury for pitchers—blisters are an occupational hazard, especially for someone like Lodolo who relies on velocity and sharp movement. The friction from his grip and repeated pitch sequences can produce blisters, especially on hot, humid days or when the skin is compromised by previous trauma.
This is a recurring issue for Lodolo; he missed almost two weeks last season for a blister on the same finger, and he was just coming off a largely healthy run this year before this setback.
Nick Lodolo Strikeouts Last Game
Before the blister cut his night short in Chicago, Lodolo was on a tremendous run. His previous full outing was July 29 against the Dodgers, where he struck out a season-high 11 batters in 5.1 innings—a dominant performance that had fans and the team buzzing. Reds manager Francona emphasized that durability was just as valuable as the strikeouts.
