Lodolo's Blister Battle: Reds' Pitching Staff in Crisis

0:00It's April 3rd. This is MLB News today, powered by AI tracking teens, players, and standings. The Cincinnati Reds are dealing with a battered pitching staff right now. Hunter Green is sidelined until at least July, after elbow surgery to fix bone spurs. Brady Singer shook off a spring training blister and has been solid. But Nick Ladolo, who's been fighting blisters for seasons, started the year on the injury list with yet another one. Ladolo was making progress with a rehab start for the low single A Daytona Tortugas on Thursday night. The plan was to test his blister control more than his arm strength, which is why they sent him there instead of higher levels. If it went smooth, he would have joined the big club in Miami early next week. He looked sharp, retiring the first A batters with four strikeouts, on track for about 60 pitches. But he had to exit early because of a fresh blister on his left index finger. Fans and the team were crushed. It's a huge setback for a cornerstone starter. This leaves the reds leaning hard on young arms, like chase burns, red louder, and Brandon Williamson, in the rotations back end.

1:07Louder and burns impressed in their season debuts, the Williamson had a rough go. These guys will be key if Ladolo stays out. Ladolo is probably back to healing up, and the reds need fresh ideas to stop these blisters for good. He's too valuable when healthy to keep losing him like this. So expect the staff to brainstorm solutions and get him mounted ready soon.