Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo had a strong outing on Friday and picked up the win in the Reds 7-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. Lodolo struck out six batters and gave up just one run in 6 1/3 innings. He did give up seven hits, but that was his only blemish on the day as none of the hits yielded much damage. The 26-year-old now has two good starts in a row after returning from a tibia injury that held him out of major league action for nearly a year. He'll look to notch another strong start on Wednesday when he faces the Philadelphia Phillies, though fantasy managers may want to temper expectations as the Phillies have been strong against lefties this season.

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo struck out 10 batters in 5 2/3 innings against the Chicago White Sox in his first start of the 2024 season. Lodolo hadn't made a start in nearly a year after suffering a tibia injury last May. He suffered setbacks late in 2023 as well, so this start was very much welcomed by the Reds and fantasy managers alike. The lefty threw 91 pitches and didn't give up a single run, marking an efficient performance against a subpar opponent. Lodolo's next scheduled start will be Friday at home against the Los Angeles Angels. Fantasy managers should grab Lodolo off the waiver wire if available.

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (calf) will come off the injured list to make his season debut on Saturday against the Chicago White Sox, according to manager David Bell. Lodolo made only seven starts for the Reds in 2023 due to a stress fracture in his tibia and gave up four runs in just 2 2/3 innings while throwing 64 pitches in his final minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Louisville, so he'll be a pretty low-upside fantasy option on Saturday in his first start of the year, even against the lowly White Sox. The 26-year-old probably will be on a short leash this weekend after throwing 77 pitches in his first rehab start on the farm. Even if you don't use him against Chicago, Lodolo is worth snatching up off the waiver wire in mixed fantasy leagues for his strikeout upside if he can remain healthy this year.

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (calf) will make his final minor-league rehab start on Sunday and is set to return from the injured list on April 12. If Lodolo doesn't have a setback in his final rehab start this weekend, he's on track to make his season debut with the Reds next weekend in an excellent matchup against the Chicago White Sox. The 26-year-old southpaw made only seven starts in 2023 in his second major-league season due to a stress reaction in his left tibia and he had more issues with the same leg in spring training this year, which caused him to open the season on the injured list. Fantasy managers may want to be patient with Lodolo upon his return, but he's worth picking up and stashing for his strikeout upside in mixed leagues if he's available.

The Cincinnati Reds sent left-hander Nick Lodolo (calf) to Triple-A Louisville on Sunday to start his minor-league rehab assignment. Lodolo started the 2024 regular season on the 15-day injured list due to left-calf tenosynovitis, but barring a setback in the minors, he's expected to have a short stay on the IL to open the year. If the 26-year-old southpaw comes out of his rehab starts without a setback, he should rejoin Cincy's starting rotation in mid-April, and his strikeout upside makes him worth stashing in all fantasy leagues. He was limited to just seven starts in 2023 due to a stress reaction in his left leg, and he had a 6.29 ERA and 1.75 WHIP with 10 walks and 47 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings before being shut down for the year.

The Cincinnati Reds put starting pitcher Nick Lodolo (leg) on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday. Lodolo will miss the first couple of turns in Cincy's rotation, but the southpaw is set to make his 2024 debut on April 10 at home versus the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers following a long road back from a stress reaction in his tibia that dates back to May of last season. The 26-year-old former No. 7 overall pick tallied an underwhelming 6.29 ERA (5.79 FIP) and 1.74 WHIP through 34 1/3 innings in 2023, but he registered a strong 28.3% strikeout rate as well as 6.0% walk rate and gave up only one run while punching out five hitters covering two spring training appearances. Considering a favorable matchup is on tap for his first showing, Lodolo's bat-missing upside means he probably shouldn't be lying around on very many waiver wires in fantasy leagues for managers that can afford to stash him.

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (leg) will not be a part of the team's Opening Day starting rotation, but he's expected to be ready to go by April 10. The Reds will open the year with a rotation consisting of Frankie Montas, Hunter Greene, Graham Ashcraft and Nick Martinez (ribs), with Andrew Abbott and Brandon Williamson (shoulder) vying for the No. 5 spot. When healthy, though, the 26-year-old Lodolo will have a rotation spot waiting for him after a lost season in 2023 due to a stress reaction in his tibia. While Lodolo has lots of strikeout upside for fantasy managers, he's also a big injury risk. The good news is that he's feeling better and has allowed only one run in two Cactus League starts this spring. In deep-mixed fantasy leagues, Lodolo is still worth taking a late-round flier on.

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo (leg) made his return to the mound during Saturday's exhibition contest against the Seattle Mariners. The left-hander was supposed to start on Friday, but had it pushed back due to the weather. Lodolo allowed two hits, walked two batters, and struck out four hitters over 2 2/3 innings of work. The Reds have already said that Lodolo will miss the opening series of the season. However, Lodolo might be able to avoid the injured list and pitch in the second series.

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo (tibia) is progressing well and will pitch in Sunday's Spring Training game, manager David Bell told the media. Although Lodolo will return to face opposing batters this weekend, he's still a few hurdles away from being fully ramped up. As a result, Bell said that Lodolo "probably isn't in the mix" to pitch in the first five regular-season games. Rather, the skipper mentioned April 9 versus the Milwaukee Brewers as a potential season debut for the former first-round pick. Lodolo managed to make just seven starts amidst injuries last year, posting a 5.79 FIP but maintaining a promising 12.32 K/9 and 2.62 BB/9. The upside is still quite apparent, so he's worth a late-round flier in fantasy baseball leagues.

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (leg) threw a two-inning simulated game in camp on Wednesday that went great, and he said his next step is pitching in a Cactus League game. "I'm good. That was another progression that I hit I'm excited," Lodolo said. A stress reaction in the 26-year-old southpaw's left tibia last year limited him to only seven starts, and he's still feeling it in his leg in spring training. However, it sounds like Lodolo is starting to turn a corner in his recovery. The Reds haven't ruled him out of being in the Opening Day rotation, but fantasy managers shouldn't get their hopes up, and the Reds will likely be cautious here. Although he's an obvious injury risk, Lodolo deserves to be stashed in deep-mixed leagues, at the very least, for his strikeout upside.

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (leg) is throwing a side bullpen session in camp on Sunday and will see a specialist for his left tibia to undergo tests on Monday. The outcome of those tests will likely determine whether he can be ready for the start of the 2024 regular season or soon thereafter. A stress reaction in Lodolo's left tibia limited him to just seven starts in 2023, but the 26-year-old southpaw is still feeling something in his leg this spring, prompting the Reds to send him for further testing. Even if the tests come back positive on his leg on Monday, fantasy managers shouldn't expect Lodolo to be in the team's Opening Day starting rotation. Still, given his high strikeout upside, Lodolo is worthy of stashing in deep-mixed leagues for rotation depth as long as his tests don't reveal something really bad.

Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell said that left-hander Nick Lodolo's (leg) recovery after throwing in camp on Thursday was "not perfect" and that he "still feels it." Lodolo is to be re-evaluated and have his leg "re-scanned," but Bell doesn't consider it a "major concern." If everything comes back OK, Lodolo could still start the 2024 regular season on time, but he would need to get into a Cactus League game by the end of next week. The 26-year-old southpaw missed most of last year due to a stress reaction in his left tibia and still isn't quite over the hump this spring. It's not what fantasy managers that were considering taking him late in drafts for rotation depth wanted to hear, but it doesn't take away from the fact that Lodolo is still a high-upside arm due to his swing-and-miss stuff when he's healthy.

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (leg) is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session in camp on Thursday, which could be an important step as he tries to get ready for Opening Day in late March. "If today goes well, he's going to be in good shape. More importantly, if he wakes up tomorrow and feels good. Tomorrow might be a better day to talk about it," manager David Bell said. The 26-year-old southpaw is behind the other pitchers this spring after missing most of 2023 due to a stress reaction in his left tibia, but he's making progress and is worth a late-round flier in mixed fantasy leagues for his strikeout upside. The former seventh overall pick in 2019 out of TCU struggled in his seven starts last year before being shut down, allowing 24 earned runs in 34 1/3 innings, but he did strike out 47 hitters.

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Graham Ashcraft (toe) is to be scheduled for his first Cactus League start "within the next week," according to manager David Bell. Meanwhile, left-hander Nick Lodolo's (leg) spring training debut would be a bit behind Ashcraft's. The 26-year-old Ashcraft is returning from surgery on his right big toe last September and is being slow-played in spring training. He has already faced hitters in camp, though, and barring a setback with his toe once he starts pitching in Cactus League games, he should open the 2024 season in the Reds' starting rotation. However, his lack of strikeout upside is a hindrance to his fantasy relevance in mixed leagues. Lodolo, who made only seven starts in 2023 due to a stress reaction in his tibia, has much more fantasy appeal for his high-strikeout upside, but he's also more of an injury risk.

Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell said that left-hander Nick Lodolo's (leg) next step at spring training is to throw a live batting practice session. "He's feeling great," Bell said. Lodolo made just seven starts in 2023 due to a stress reaction in his left tibia, which is why the Reds are slow-playing him in spring training. But the 26-year-old is now pain-free and is slowly progressing. Barring a setback, he is expected to be part of the team's starting rotation on Opening Day late in March. Before his injury last year, Lodolo was hurt by the long ball. The former seventh overall pick had a strikeout rate close to 30 percent, though, and there's still a lot to like about him in the long term. However, coming off his lost season, fantasy managers should consider him nothing more than rotation depth in deep-mixed leagues in 2024.

Cincinnati Reds pitchers Emilio Pagan (sports hernia surgery) and Nick Lodolo (tibia) are both throwing bullpens as Spring Training gets underway, manager David Bell told the media on Saturday. Pagan pitched great as a Minnesota Twin last year, posting a 3.27 FIP, 8.44 K/9, 2.73 BB/9, and 0.65 HR/9. He was also a source of reliability in the Twins' bullpen, tossing 69.1 innings over 66 games, which was just one appearance shy of his career high. Bell did note that Pagan won't be ready for the Reds' opening Spring Training games, but it sounds like he continues to trend in the direction with 26-man roster decisions still more than one month away. Lodolo is also making significant progress, with Bell noting that his bullpen session on Saturday "will shape [the] next steps" in his rehab process. The former first-round pick managed to make just seven starts amidst injuries last year, posting a 5.79 FIP but maintaining a promising 12.32 K/9 and 2.62 BB/9. Assuming he doesn't face any setbacks over the next couple of weeks, Lodolo figures to be ready for Opening Day, too.

Cincinnati Reds general manager Nick Krall said that starting pitchers Nick Lodolo (leg) and Graham Ashcraft (toe) are on track to be ready for spring training next year. Lodolo did not require surgery for an injured left tibia that limited him to only seven starts in his second big-league season in 2023. The young left-hander also dealt with a calf injury. Despite the injuries and basically a lost season, the 25-year-old southpaw has a lot of strikeout upside and will have a locked in spot in Cincy's starting rotation in 2024 as long as he's healthy. Lodolo had an ERA over 6.00 in his seven starts this year, but he posted a 3.66 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with 131 K's in 103 1/3 innings in his rookie season in 2022. Ashcraft had surgery in September to fix a stress reaction in his big right toe. The 25-year-old righty went 7-9 with a 4.76 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in 26 starts in his second major-league campaign in 2023.

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (leg) will not make it back this year after suffering a setback with his left-tibia stress reaction. Lodolo had a setback with his left leg during a minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Louisville last week, which sealed his fate. He'll finish his second major-league season with a 2-1 record, 6.29 ERA (5.80 FIP), 1.75 WHIP, 10 walks and 47 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings pitched over his seven starts. Through two seasons for the Reds to this point, the 25-year-old southpaw has a 4.31 ERA (4.37 FIP), 1.37 WHIP and 178 K's in 137 2/3 innings over 26 starts. Lodolo is still young and has plenty of strikeout upside, so he'll be a nice value selection late in fantasy drafts in 2024.

Cincinnati Reds lefty Nick Lodolo (leg) completed his second rehab game on Sunday, but an MRI after the contest revealed he suffered a stress reaction in his left tibia, according to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. The hope was for the 25-year-old to return at some point in late August, but that seems very unlikely now. Lodolo hasn't pitched in the big leagues since May 6 after a leg issue forced him to the injured list. Prior to the injury, he posted a 6.29 ERA and 1.75 WHIP but struck out 47 over 34 1/3 innings. Fantasy owners may have to wait until 2024 to see Lodolo back on the mound, but he should continue missing a ton of bats when he's finally in action again.

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (leg) looked good in his second minor-league rehab start earlier this week on Tuesday with Double-A Chattanooga, tossing three scoreless and hitless innings while walking two and striking out six. He threw 49 pitches in the outing and has struck out 10 batters in five innings in his first two rehab starts in the minors. The 25-year-old southpaw's next rehab start will come on Sunday at Triple-A Louisville, and that could be his final tune-up before rejoining the Reds' starting rotation for the stretch run. Lodolo has been out since May 6 due to a stress reaction in his tibia and he didn't look great in his seven starts before the injury, but his strikeout upside makes him attractive at least in deep-mixed fantasy leagues.