It's becoming an annual tradition in Cincinnati, and not the fun kind. Nick Lodolo is headed back to the injured list with a blister, the same nagging issue that has now cost him time in three consecutive seasons. This one flared up during his start against the Cubs, forcing him out early and setting off yet another rotation scramble for the Reds.
MLB Trade Rumors confirmed the corresponding moves: Lodolo to the IL, Petty back up from Louisville.
For a pitcher with Lodolo's talent, the blister saga is starting to feel cruel. The lefty has flashed frontline stuff when healthy, but his left index finger keeps having other ideas, and it's robbing him of the innings he needs to build any real momentum in a season.
Enter Chase Petty, who's basically become the Reds' emergency contact whenever the rotation springs a leak. The hard-throwing righty gets recalled from Triple-A Louisville again to soak up starts, a role he's now filled multiple times this year alone. It's not a glamorous job, but every call-up is another chance for Petty to prove he belongs in the big-league mix for good.
Fantasy managers and prop bettors are feeling this one immediately. Lodolo owners are stuck on the shelf watching him get shut down again, while anyone plugging Petty into a lineup has to reckon with the unpredictability that comes with a young arm making spot starts under pressure. Cincinnati's rotation depth is being tested in real time, and it's fair to wonder how much more of this the front office is willing to absorb before making a bigger move.
The bigger question hanging over all of it is whether Lodolo's blister issue is something the Reds can actually fix, or if it's just a recurring cost of doing business with him. Third time is not the charm here, and until Cincinnati finds an answer, expect Petty's number to keep getting dialed whenever the rotation needs a lifeline.