The Cincinnati Reds placed starting pitcher Nick Lodolo on the 15-day injured list on Sunday because of a blister on his left index finger.
In a corresponding move, the Reds recalled rookie right-hander Chase Petty from Triple-A Louisville.
Finger blisters have been an issue for Lodolo, who exited Saturday’s 5-3 loss to the visiting Chicago Cubs after allowing Carson Kelly’s leadoff homer in the sixth inning. Lodolo, 28, was making his 12th start since beginning the season on the injured list after a blister on the same finger developed on March 22.
The left-hander allowed two runs on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts in five-plus innings on Saturday. Lodolo said he felt something while warming up for the sixth but didn’t see anything on the finger until after Kelly’s blast.
Lodolo is 3-2 this season with a 4.60 ERA, 27 walks and 50 strikeouts in 62 2/3 innings over the 12 starts.
For his career, Lodolo is 27-24 with one save, a 4.13 ERA, 144 walks and 506 strikeouts in 472 1/3 innings over 88 regular-season games (87 starts) since 2022.
He also went on the injured list because of blisters in 2024 and 2025 and missed time while a minor leaguer in 2021. Cincinnati selected Lodolo in the first round (seventh overall) in the 2019 MLB Draft out of TCU.
Lodolo is looking for answers on how to prevent blisters in the future, and is considering changing the grip on his breaking ball. Reds manager Terry Francona said the club is discussing ideas with him.
“Nick even mentioned it last night talking to him. Saying that, you really got to think it through,” Francona said. “Because for me to sit here in my chair and say, ‘Well, just move your finger over to the side.’
“The kid’s been pitching like this his whole life. I agree the blister is not good. If you hurt your shoulder (changing grips), there’s got to be some pulling back on the reins a little bit and not jumping in until you know something can really help.”
Petty, 23, is 1-2 with one save, a 4.38 ERA, seven walks and 11 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings over 11 games (two starts) for Cincinnati this season.
Minnesota drafted Petty in the first round (26th overall) in 2021. The Twins traded him to the Reds in March 2022 for right-hander Sonny Gray and minor league pitcher Francis Peguero.
Petty is a career 1-5 with one save, a 7.34 ERA, 15 walks and 18 strikeouts in 30 2/3 innings over 14 games (four starts) since making his major league debut in 2025.
