Reds’ Nick Lodolo reassured after comebacker hit wrist, while Blake Dunn set for more elbow testing

PITTSBURGH, June 27, 2026. A sharp turn in the Reds’ rotation plans was avoided, at least for now, after left-hander Nick Lodolo was hit on the left wrist by a comebacker during Tuesday’s game against the Brewers. According to MLB’s team report, the impact ended his previous outing earlier than expected, but Lodolo is currently viewed as good to go for his next start.

The Reds’ medical and training staff treated the play as a legitimate warning sign because comebacker velocity matters, and Lodolo was struck by a pitch measured at 107.6 mph. Even when pitchers are able to continue briefly after being hit, the wrist is a critical joint for command and ball control, so the decision to keep Lodolo’s availability tight until further assessment was expected.

From there, the focus shifts to how quickly Lodolo can regain full throwing strength and confidence. The report frames his status as “on track” for the next start rather than a finished-to-the-minute clearance, which is often how teams describe pitchers who need to demonstrate that the discomfort has settled once they move from treatment and warmups to full bullpen and game-readiness work.

For the Reds, the other major injury thread involves right-handed reliever Blake Dunn, whose elbow issue is not yet resolved. Dunn’s situation, per the same update, requires more tests, meaning the team does not have enough information at this point to determine when he could return to full availability or how he will be managed in the short term.

Elbow injuries can vary widely in severity and timeline, and teams often avoid guessing when additional testing is still planned. That matters in a bullpen context, because relievers are typically integrated based on workload windows, matchup roles, and readiness checks, and those factors can change once an elbow’s underlying condition is clarified.

Both updates underline the Reds’ immediate priority: protecting key arms while maintaining the structure of their pitching staff. When one starter or high-leverage arm is limited, managers often adjust who faces certain batters and how many innings the bullpen can cover on a given day, particularly in close games where leverage and pitch counts become even more important.

The next practical checkpoint for the Reds is straightforward. Lodolo’s status will hinge on how he progresses through whatever throwing milestones the club has set to confirm the wrist is stable, while Dunn’s timetable depends on the results of the additional elbow evaluation. Until those steps are completed, the organization will likely keep options ready rather than committing too far ahead.