The Cincinnati Reds took a step toward getting Nick Lodolo back in their rotation on Tuesday, announcing the left-hander has begun a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville.
The club shared the update before continuing its series against the Athletics, with Lodolo expected to build up his workload before returning to Cincinnati's starting staff after his latest stint on the injured list.
The Reds entered Tuesday at 54-58, sitting last in the National League Central and looking to gain ground in the National League Wild Card race during the final two months of the season.
Lodolo is 3-2 with a 4.60 ERA in 12 starts this season. Across 62 2/3 innings, the 28-year-old has struck out 50 batters while issuing 27 walks and posting a 1.47 WHIP.
The former first-round pick landed on the 15-day injured list on July 12 because of a blister on his left index finger, marking his second trip to the IL this season with the same issue. His first blister delayed his season debut until May, but the Reds have now cleared him to resume game action through a rehab assignment.
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Getting Lodolo back would provide a boost for a Cincinnati rotation that has relied heavily on Hunter Greene, Andrew Abbott and several younger arms during his absence. The rehab assignment will allow the Reds to evaluate whether the blister issue has fully healed before activating him.
If Lodolo completes the assignment without setbacks, he could rejoin Cincinnati's rotation during next week's schedule, giving the club another experienced starter as it attempts to finish the season on a strong note.
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