GOODYEAR, Ariz. –– Last year, Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo watched pregame introductions on Opening Day from the tunnel to the clubhouse.
Lodolo began his rookie season as a part of the Reds’ rotation. But as a procedural move, he wasn’t added to the big league roster until the sixth game of the season.
This year, Lodolo breaks camp as the No. 2 starter in the Reds rotation. His spring training concluded on Sunday by allowing just one hit and one run in 2 ⅔ innings against the Cleveland Guardians. In the spring training finale at Goodyear Ballpark, the Guardians beat the Reds, 3-2.
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“It almost feels like it’s still my first Opening Day,” Lodolo said. “Last year, I had to watch it in the tunnel. This year, I’ll be on the line. I’m excited for it.”
Lodolo has been just as good as anyone this spring training, posting a 2.16 ERA. Against the Guardians, Lodolo said all of his pitches are where he’d want them to be. He only allowed a solo homer against the Guardians, and he’s ready to throw six-plus innings.
“(Lodolo has had) continued progress and continued improvement,” Reds manager David Bell said. “Continued comfort to where (his) ability is able to come out more consistently. (Lodolo, Hunter Greene and Graham Ashcraft) have gotten more comfortable at this level and their level of talent and the work they put in is just showing up more and more. It’s been a great camp for all three of those guys.”
Three observations
1. One of Lodolo’s biggest goals for the spring was to develop his changeup into a pitch he can rely on during the regular season. He said his changeup was better against the Guardians than it had been all spring, and the pitch is right where he wants it to be heading into the season. “I really wanted to get (a changeup) that’s serviceable in any count,” Lodolo said. “Today I showed that it was.”
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2. During his rookie season last year, Reds reliever Alexis Díaz proved he was ready to be the team’s closer in May with an extra-innings, game-winning strikeout against Cleveland Guardians star José Ramírez. Díaz faced Ramírez again in the spring training finale, and he had an even nastier strikeout. After getting ahead 0-2 in the count with two fastballs, Díaz went to his slider. Ramírez whiffed so badly at the slider in the dirt that he spun in a circle and fell on top of the plate. Díaz struck out the side on Sunday in a scoreless fifth inning.
3. As the Reds prepared to return to Cincinnati on Sunday afternoon, the big leaguers were done after the fifth inning to get on the flight back. Nick Senzel, who’s scheduled to start the year in Triple-A on a rehab assignment, is staying back in Arizona and finished the game at third base as he continues to recover from a broken toe. He made an incredible defensive play, covering a ton of ground to his left, fielding a sharp ground ball on the run and making the throw to first for a groundout.
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