PITTSBURGH – The Cincinnati Reds’ beleaguered starting rotation gets a much needed reinforcement with the anticipated return of No. 2 starter Nick Lodolo when the team returns home for its weekend series against the Houston Astros.
Meanwhile, the Reds plan to backfill for the injured Brandon Williamson in Monday’s series opener against the Cubs in Chicago by calling up Chase Petty from Triple-A Louisville for what could be one spot start.
Lodolo opened the season on the injured list because of a blister that arose in his final start of the spring, then suffered a setback during his first minor-league rehab start in April.
A lengthier process that involved topicals, treatment and a “contraption” that manager Terry Francona had trouble describing but might have something to do with the pores on the left-hander’s fingertips.
Lodolo got up to 79 pitches in his most recent rehab outing, a 4 1/3-inning start for Louisville on Saturday night, in which he threw “16 or 17” sliders, Francona said.
“That’s the biggest thing,” the manager said of the pitch that puts the most stress on the fingertips. “He didn’t command great early. But he got up to a pretty high pitch count. He got a little fatigued, which is good. You kind of want to see that.
“We accomplished what I think we needed to.”
Lodolo is to be evaluated again when he meets the team in Chicago, but Francona said the plan is for him to start Friday’s opener of the Astros series.
Until then, the Reds have three pitchers on the injured list, including Hunter Greene (bone chips surgery on elbow in March) and Williamson, who left his start last week because of shoulder fatigue.
Most of this week’s rotation decisions were made after the Reds suffered three blowout losses in four games through Saturday, falling out of first place, behind the Cubs.
Which makes it an especially good time for the Reds to get the boost Lodolo might provide.
“There’s never a bad time,” Francona said.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Nick Lodolo to return from IL, boost sagging Reds rotation Friday