Reds’ Lodolo readies rotation return
The Reds’ rotation figures to get stronger by the end of next week, when Nick Lodolo is scheduled to come off the injured list and make his first start in almost a year.
Lodolo’s spring was slowed by lingering issues with the bone in the leg that sidelined him last season, but he looked good in a five-inning rehab start at Triple-a Louisville on Sunday and has one more tapered-back rehab start sched- uled before he can be activated on April 10.
The Reds haven’t firmed up what the rotation looks like when he returns. They could bump Nick Martinez – an effective swingman for the San Diego Padres the last two seasons – to the bullpen or push Martinez back a game and create a temporary six-man rotation.
Lefty reliever Sam Moll (shoulder) and righty reliever Ian Gibaut (forearm) also appear close to returning after opening the season on the injured list.
“Hopefully, that’s going to be a big help,” general manager Brad Meador said. “This is what we’ve missed the last couple of years, especially last year when we got to the end and we were in the hunt and we were bringing guys up from Double-a who all did a good job, but it was unfair to ask of them what we asked of them.
“We’re set up better,” Meador said. “I feel good about where we are and the depth that we do have.”
Meanwhile, centerfielder TJ Friedl is expected to have a follow-up X-ray on his injured wrist this week, with an MRI not far behind that, to determine how much he can ramp up activity. If all goes well he might be looking at a return near the end of the month.
“In his case, keeping the reins on him is the hardest part,” Meador said, “because he wants to go as soon as he can. We saw that last year (with a quick return from an oblique injury), which is great. That’s what you want, that you have to hold them back.”