CHICAGO — It has been an excellent stretch of late season begins for Reds rookie pitcher Nick Lodolo, however the left-hander wasn’t thrilled along with his remaining outing of 2022. On a blustery day with the wind blowing in whereas dealing with the Cubs, Lodolo uncharacteristically issued walks and spent a bit of his effort understanding of jams.
It was a no-decision for Lodolo within the Reds’ 2-1 defeat at Wrigley Discipline on Saturday afternoon. Over 5 innings, Lodolo allowed one run on two hits however walked a career-high 5 batters whereas putting out 5.
“The free bases are the most important takeaway for me,” Lodolo mentioned. “I discovered a approach to get out of it, so I made some pitches once I wanted to, however total, once I consider it that’s the very first thing that involves thoughts.”
A Seiya Suzuki solo dwelling run to left subject with two outs within the seventh inning towards reliever Derek Regulation snapped a 1-1 tie. The Reds, who ranked twenty ninth in runs (90) throughout September, had no response — and no hits after the third inning.
Cincinnati has misplaced 5 straight video games and 18 of its final 22 to achieve a 60-98 file. It might want to win three of the ultimate 4 video games to keep away from the second 100-loss season in franchise historical past and first in 40 years.
The Reds’ travails aren’t a mirrored image on how Lodolo has carried out. He completed the season 4-7 with a 3.66 ERA and 131 strikeouts in 19 begins. Over his previous 9 begins and 55 2/3 innings, the 24-year-old had a 2.75 ERA with 66 strikeouts.
“I really feel fairly good about it,” Lodolo mentioned. “I believe from the All-Star break on, actually form of began to get right into a rhythm. I’m joyful the best way I threw it within the second half is the most important factor.”
It was a powerful end to a 12 months that did not precisely begin on the suitable foot. Lodolo gave up a season-high 5 earned runs in his Main League debut on April 13 vs. the Guardians. After his third begin and first huge league win over the Cardinals on April 24, he went on the injured listing for greater than two months.
“He did come again stronger after he was injured; I believe he made essentially the most of that point and continued to remain engaged with the group and what he wanted to do,” Reds supervisor David Bell mentioned. “I believe additionally it was understanding what he wanted to do along with his pitch utilization and what it took to get Main League hitters out, which numerous instances is simply doing what you do finest.”
At the start of September, Lodolo had back-to-back no-walk, 11-strikeout performances. However on Saturday vs. the Cubs, walks prompted him some bother. None damage greater than a two-out stroll to David Bote within the backside of the second inning. Nelson Velázquez adopted by hitting an RBI triple to right-center subject to offer Chicago a 1-0 lead. Lodolo walked the following two batters to load the bases however escaped when Suzuki flew out to proper subject.
“I didn’t really feel uncontrolled or something,” Lodolo mentioned. “Should you take out that [second] inning, it was an honest day. I made pitches once I wanted to and simply minimized it to maintain us in it.”
Lodolo’s main pitches have been the fastball and curveball however particularly within the newer begins, he has more and more built-in his changeup into the combination. He threw it eight instances for six strikes – together with on a pair of groundouts throughout a 1-2-3 backside of the third inning.
“Let the changeup work proceed. It confirmed up at present once I wanted it. It acquired some guys off some [other] stuff,” Lodolo mentioned.
“Nick — I give him a ton of credit score in his first 12 months. When some are simply attempting to outlive, he’s truly made enhancements and labored on one thing,” Bell mentioned. “He took the possibility and the danger to throw a pitch that he hasn’t thrown as a lot when he in all probability didn’t should have it or actually need it. And it’s made him higher.”
The Reds will go into 2023 with a rotation anticipated to incorporate Lodolo, Hunter Greene and Graham Ashcraft because the trio heads into their sophomore season. With 103 1/3 innings pitched, Lodolo felt he would be capable to present far more subsequent 12 months.
“I really feel like proper now I can nonetheless preserve pitching. I’m wanting ahead to it,” Lodolo mentioned. “Going into this offseason able to get after it, study some stuff.”
