Reds starter Nick Lodolo has been out of motion since Might 6 attributable to a left leg difficulty. Initially introduced as calf tendinitis, the damage was later revised to a extra regarding tibia stress response.

Lodolo has spent the higher a part of a month in a strolling boot. Comply with-up imaging this afternoon confirmed he’d want not less than one other two weeks within the boot, skipper David Bell advised the media (relayed by Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer). He’ll go for added testing at that time.

In response to Bell, Lodolo would seemingly want 4 to 6 weeks from the time he’s out of the strolling boot earlier than he’d be prepared for sport motion. The lengthy layoff would require him to construct arm energy again by way of a throwing program. On the earliest, that timeline would counsel an early-August return to Nice American Ball Park. Additional delays or the longer finish of that anticipated throwing program may hold him out properly into the month.

Lodolo is already on the 60-day injured checklist. He’s eligible to return across the All-Star Break however clearly gained’t be prepared by that time. It has been a irritating season for the second-year hurler. He’s began seven video games and pitched to a 6.29 ERA over 34 1/3 innings. The previous seventh total decide had additionally spent a pair months on the IL final season — in that case attributable to a decrease again pressure — however impressed with a 3.66 ERA over 103 1/3 frames as a rookie.

The Reds weren’t usually anticipated to compete this season. That’d have been particularly powerful to check if one may’ve predicted Lodolo’s damage woes, however Cincinnati’s inflow of younger infield expertise has helped them outperform most preseason forecasts. The Reds sit at 34-35, simply two video games behind the Pirates in a lackluster NL Central. If Cincinnati can hold within the playoff image deep into the summer time, Lodolo’s return may tackle further significance for a membership presently giving common rotation run to every of Luke Weaver, Ben Energetic and Brandon Williamson.