Cincinnati Reds: Nick Lodolo’s difficult season has provided plenty of lessons

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo struggled mightily against Los Angeles Dodgers ace Tarik Skubal on Monday, September 15, leading to a 4-1 loss for the Reds. Skubal, who has won the Cy Young award twice, dominated the game with seven shutout innings. Despite pitching seven innings himself and allowing just four runs, Lodolo acknowledged the formidable challenge posed by Skubal, stating, "When a guy's going like (Skubal), you've got to match it."

Lodolo has consistently held himself to high standards, posting a 3.33 ERA in 2025 and earning a spot on the Team USA World Baseball Classic roster. However, this season has seen a significant drop in performance, with a 5.12 ERA across 19 starts and a notably high walk rate of 9.7%, well below his 2025 top-five percentile mark of 4.8%.

The increased walk rate proved to be a significant issue on Monday, as Lodolo issued four free passes against the Dodgers. While he emphasized that his performance wasn't solely dependent on the opponent, he recognized the challenge posed by the Dodgers' lineup, noting that their hitters can turn a single big swing into a game-changer.

Despite the setback, the fact that Lodolo managed a full seven-inning outing was a positive, providing relief to the Reds' bullpen, which has been under significant pressure. His season has been marked by a persistent blister issue, leading to multiple injuries throughout the year and a recent adjustment in his breaking ball grip.

This change has not yielded the same results as his previous season, where his breaking ball was a key factor in generating a high rate of swing and miss. The underlying metrics have been concerning for Lodolo this season, with fewer strikeouts and a tendency to allow hard contact. Nonetheless, the most recent start highlighted the challenges Lodolo has faced in 2026, reinforcing the difficulties he has encountered throughout the season.