Cincinnati Reds fans have every reason to feel optimistic about the upcoming season, especially after watching key players like Hunter Greene, Elly De La Cruz, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand shine in spring training. This trio of stars has looked impressive and appears to already be in midseason form.
However, while there’s plenty of confidence in those players (and others), legitimate concerns remain about a few individuals. Chief among them is starting pitcher Nick Lodolo.
After spending much of 2024 on the injured list, with four separate stints, and struggling when he was healthy enough to pitch, fans are understandably cautious about placing high expectations on Lodolo. With him slated to start Game 2 of the 2025 season, many are holding their breath, hoping he can stay healthy and find his form.
Should the Reds be concerned about Nick Lodolo?
Reds manager Terry Francona has already named Hunter Greene as the team’s Opening Day starter, and fans are hopeful that Greene can continue building on his breakthrough 2024 season, where he emerged as the ace many had anticipated. Despite a brief stint on the IL, Greene made 26 starts, posted a 2.75 ERA, and struck out 169 batters in 150 ⅓ innings of work.
Expectations for Nick Lodolo are similarly high, though there is more uncertainty surrounding him. After impressing as a rookie by making major league hitters look foolish, Lodolo has struggled to recapture that form over the past two years. In 2022, he made 19 starts, posted a solid 3.66 ERA, and struck out 131 batters in just over 103 innings.
He allowed only 13 home runs and had a 119 ERA+, but in the past two seasons, his ERA has ballooned to 5.11, and he’s given up 23 home runs in nearly 150 innings. His 87 ERA+ and 9.1 hits per nine innings pitched (up from 7.8 in 2022) are concerning.
Lodolo did increase his changeup usage in 2024, but his fastball velocity has remained fairly consistent throughout his career. Looking at advanced metrics, his performance in 2024 was similar to his rookie season in 2022, which raises questions about whether he can take the next step.
Ultimately, it’s not Lodolo’s control, mechanics, or command that are the primary sources of concern for Reds fans this season. It’s his health. If he can stay off the injured list, there’s little to worry about. But given his injury history, that remains a big “if.”
Be the first to comment