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Nick Lodolo Feels Good After Throwing 50 Pitches on Friday
Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (finger) threw 50 pitches over three simulated innings of live batting practice against hitters on Friday, according to MLB.com. Lodolo felt good about using a new grip to throw his breaking pitches, and he could be cleared to go on a minor-league rehab assignment next. The 28-year-old southpaw has been on the 15-day injured list with a left index finger blister since July 12, but he's nearing a return to the Reds' starting rotation for the remainder of the second half of the season. Before going on the IL yet again, Lodolo had gone 3-2 for the Reds this year with a 4.60 ERA (5.09 FIP) and 1.47 WHIP with 50 strikeouts and 27 walks in 62 2/3 innings across his 12 starts. The former seventh overall pick in 2019 out of Texas Christian University has never been able to stay healthy long enough to realize his potential in the big leagues, and he's posted a career-low 17.9% strikeout rate and career-high 9.7% walk rate in 2026. Lodolo could be a decent matchup-based streamer in fantasy leagues when he returns to Cincy's starting rotation, and he's currently rostered in only 63% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Nick Lodolo to Face Live Hitters on Friday
Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (finger) will test out his new breaking-ball grip when he faces live hitters on Friday, according to C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic. It will be Lodolo's first time facing hitters since going on the 15-day injured list on July 12 with another blister on his finger. The 28-year-old southpaw teased high-end strikeout upside when he entered the league in 2022 as a former first-round pick out of TCU, but he has failed to live up to expectations and hasn't been able to stay healthy enough to make 30 starts in a single season. In just 12 starts (62 2/3 innings) this year, Lodolo has gone 3-2 with a 4.60 ERA (5.10 FIP) and 1.47 WHIP with 50 strikeouts and 27 walks. He's had a career-low 17.9% strikeout rate and career-high 9.7% walk rate, which is not what you want to see. Still, he's rostered in 63% of Yahoo leagues with hopes that he can at least be a viable matchup-based streamer to close out the year. The Reds will likely have Lodolo make at least one minor-league rehab start if his simulated game goes off without a hitch on Friday.
Source: The Athletic - C. Trent Rosecrans
Source: The Athletic - C. Trent Rosecrans
JJ Bleday Belongs on More 12-Team Rosters
Cincinnati Reds outfielder JJ Bleday is batting .231/.339/.470 with 18 home runs, 45 RBI, 40 runs, and six stolen bases through 331 plate appearances. The average is still a weakness, but a .260 expected mark suggests he has deserved better. More importantly, Bleday's 10.8% barrel rate, 42.1% hard-hit rate, and .468 expected slugging percentage support the power that has kept him in the heart of Cincinnati's lineup. Bleday has started regularly in the corner outfield and offers enough walks and occasional speed to contribute beyond home runs. Yahoo managers have left him unclaimed in 74% of leagues, even though he ranks 49th in RotoBaller's Week 18 waiver rankings with an add recommendation for 12-team formats. He is not a batting-average asset, but managers seeking power and run production should not leave him available at that league depth.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Hunter Greene Drawing "Significant Interest" From Rival Teams
Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene is drawing "significant interest" from rival teams, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Rosenthal reports that Cincinnati isn't "particularly motivated" to move Greene, but that trading him might be the team's "best chance to make an impact" at the upcoming trade deadline. 2026 has been a bit of a lost year for Greene so far, as he did not make his season debut until early July after undergoing elbow surgery in March. The 26-year-old has struggled across 21 2/3 innings (four starts) since his return, recording a 2-2 record with a 7.06 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 29 strikeouts. Still, Greene carries high-end fantasy SP1 upside when healthy, as he posted a 2.76 ERA and a 25.2% K-BB rate across 107 2/3 innings (19 starts) in 2025. A trade to a contender may ultimately help Greene's fantasy value, as it would get him out of Cincinnati's hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park.
Source: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
Source: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
Hector Rodriguez Slugs Home Run No. 25 as MLB Debut Looms
Cincinnati Reds outfield prospect Hector Rodriguez launched his 25th home run of the Triple-A season on Tuesday night. Facing Indianapolis, the slugger went 1-for-4 with a long ball. While the No. 5-ranked prospect in the system has had a relatively quiet July, going just 7-for-51 with two home runs and a low .460 OPS, prior to this short skid, the outfielder carried a .292/.372/.566 line with a .938 OPS over his first 85 games of the season. During this noted stretch, Rodriguez launched 23 home runs while adding 14 doubles and swiping six bags. While there is not a clear path to playing time, if Rodriguez can enjoy another power binge, he could push the team's hand. For now, he remains a solid stash target in deeper 12+ team leagues for those needing some late-season power.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Nick Lodolo Working on New Breaking-Ball Grip as he Rehabs a Blister
Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (finger) threw a bullpen session without discomfort on July 22 and another one on July 26, and he has been testing a new grip for his breaking ball and hasn't reported any issues, according to MLB.com. Lodolo landed on the 15-day injured list on July 12 with another blister on his left index finger. There is no specific timetable for his return to the Reds' starting rotation, but he appears to be making good progress. The next step is for Lodolo to face live batters before he's likely sent out on a minor-league rehab assignment. In a best-case scenario, Lodolo might not be back in the majors until mid-August. In his first 12 starts of the season, the former seventh overall pick in 2019 from Texas Christian University went 3-2 with a 4.60 ERA (5.11 FIP) and 1.47 WHIP with 50 strikeouts and 27 walks in 62 2/3 innings. Lodolo's strikeout upside has been intriguing since he entered the league in 2022, but he has a career-low 17.9% strikeout rate in 2026 and a career-high 9.7% walk rate, which is not what you'd want to see from an oft-injured arm.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Spencer Steer Removed Due to Hand Injury
Cincinnati Reds first baseman/outfielder Spencer Steer (hand) was forced to make an early exit from Sunday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Steer appeared to have tweaked his hand after he fouled off a pitch during the fifth inning. He was visited by the training staff and pulled from the contest mid-at-bat. Before leaving the game, Steer was 0-for-2 with two strikeouts at the plate. The expectation is that Steer will undergo further testing to determine the severity of the injury. For now, fantasy managers should consider Steer as day-to-day. There should be another update on his status ahead of Monday's game against the Cleveland Guardians.
Source: Jeff Jones
Source: Jeff Jones
Hector Rodriguez Could be Impact Addition for the Reds
Cincinnati Reds outfield prospect Hector Rodriguez has surprised a bit with his consistent power in his age-22 season at Triple-A Louisville. Rodriguez has tallied 24 homers in 374 at-bats with 62 RBI, 68 runs scored, and a .275 batting average. Given 45-grade power by scouts, Rodriguez has surpassed expectations with his power this season. He is now the No. 3 prospect in the Reds' system. The Dominican Republic native could be a late-season addition to the Reds in the outfield. The left-handed-hitting bat could add some pop to the Cincinnati outfield, and with Blake Dunn currently on the injured list, there could be an opening for Rodriguez at the big-league level. Rodriguez should produce solid numbers if promoted and would be a good addition to fantasy teams over the second half of the season.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Spencer Steer A Waiver Option for Power Despite Recent Hitless Stretch
Cincinnati Reds infielder/outfielder Spencer Steer returned on Wednesday from a rib injury he suffered on Monday and went 0-for-4 at the plate in the 5-3 win over the hosting Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Steer is now hitless in his last 11 at-bats, but the 28-year-old has been much better so far in July than he was in June, when he hit just .159 (13-for-82) with a .629 OPS, six home runs, a double, 13 RBI, 14 runs scored, nine walks, and 28 strikeouts in 24 games played. The 28-year-old right-handed slugger is currently batting .259 (14-for-54) with an .818 OPS, three home runs, two doubles, six RBI, and six runs scored in 16 games and 62 plate appearances in July. Steer is up to 16 home runs in 96 games across 378 plate appearances in 2026 in his fifth year with the Reds, and he offers under-the-radar power in a hitter-friendly home environment in deeper fantasy leagues for managers who are searching for more pop. Now that Steer is over his recent rib injury, hopefully he will begin to put his power stroke on display once again. He's currently rostered in only 36% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
JJ Bleday Emerges as Interesting Power Option
Cincinnati Reds outfielder JJ Bleday hasn't exactly been tearing the cover off the ball lately, but that doesn't mean he's not offering fantasy value. Over the last two weeks, Bleday has only recorded nine hits, but three of those were home runs. The 28-year-old has already surpassed last year's season total of 14 homers, and we just started the second half of the season. Through 72 games, Bleday has 16 home runs with 43 RBI and 41 walks. He's not going to hit for average, but fantasy managers looking for power or help with walks should consider adding Bleday. There is a very good chance that he sets a new career high in home runs this season.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Nick Lodolo Set to Throw Bullpen on Wednesday
Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (finger) will attempt to throw a bullpen on Wednesday, per Charlie Goldsmith of FOX 19 Cincinnati. Lodolo is currently on the 15-day injured list due to a blister, which has been a recurring issue throughout his career to this point. Across 62 2/3 innings (12 starts) on the year, Lodolo has recorded a 3-2 record with a 4.60 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts. The 27-year-old's strikeout rate has dipped from 24.3% in 2025 to 17.9% in 2026, while his walk rate has spiked to a career-worst 9.7%. If Lodolo can make it through his bullpen session without prohibitive discomfort, he could be on track to return from the IL as soon as he is eligible. However, he could also be facing an extended absence if the blister does not subside. With Lodolo on the shelf, Reds right-hander Rhett Lowder has rejoined the team's rotation for the time being.
Source: FOX 19 - Charlie Goldsmith
Source: FOX 19 - Charlie Goldsmith
Hector Rodriguez Finding Power Stroke at Triple-A
Cincinnati Reds outfield prospect Hector Rodriguez has been a consistent power source at Triple-A Louisville this season with 24 homers and 61 RBI, 67 runs scored, and a .280 batting average. The 22-year-old left-handed hitter has been steady all season and could force his power bat to a big league promotion. Rodriguez is the Reds' No. 4 overall prospect and has had at least five homers in each calendar month this season. He doesn't profile as a big, intimidating presence in the batter's box at just 5-foot-10 and 200 pounds, but he excels with his bat speed and has translated that to power numbers in the minors this season. Rodriguez makes for a nice speculative add in deep leagues this season as he continues to mash at Triple-A. This could be the year for his big league debut, and he could reward fantasy managers for taking a shot on him.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Tyler Stephenson Heating Up in July, Hits Two Homers Against Rockies
Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson took advantage of the thin air in Denver in Sunday's series finale in the team's 9-6 win over the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field to go 3-for-4 at the plate with two home runs, a double, and three RBI to boost his season average to .247 and his OPS to .721. Stephenson is now hitting .247/.325/.396 on the season with a .720 OPS, eight home runs, 27 RBI, and 20 runs scored in 75 games played and 265 plate appearances in his seventh year in the majors with the Reds. He has missed more time with injury in 2026 but has been heating up in July, going 13-for-35 (.371) with two home runs, two doubles, three RBI, and three runs scored in just 10 games and 36 plate appearances. Since the start of June, Stephenson has hit .319 (30-for-94) with an .866 OPS, four homers, five doubles, 10 RBI, and nine runs scored in 29 games across 101 plate appearances. When healthy, the 29-year-old starting catcher can provide above-average power at the weak catching position at a hitter-friendly home ballpark.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jose Trevino Clubs Two Home Runs in Loss to Rockies
Cincinnati Reds catcher Jose Trevino took advantage of the thin air in Denver on Saturday night to go 3-for-4 with two solo home runs in the team's 10-3 blowout loss to the hosting Colorado Rockies at hitter-friendly Coors Field. The 33-year-old veteran backup catcher provided most of the Reds' offense on the night and boosted his season line to .268/.278/.437 with a .714 OPS, three home runs, 10 RBI, and nine runs scored in just 23 games played and 74 plate appearances as the backup to Tyler Stephenson. The two-homer game was Trevino's first of the year and just the third of his big-league career, with the last such instance coming back in May of 2024 when he was with the New York Yankees. Trevino has been hot when given opportunities since the start of June for Cincy, going 15-for-42 (.357) with all three of his home runs, two doubles, eight RBI, and seven runs scored in 12 games and 42 plate appearances. However, his rare power outburst on Saturday in Denver shouldn't cause fantasy managers to grab him off the waiver wire, even in two-catcher leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Recent Power Binge Puts Hector Rodriguez on the Doorstep of Major Leagues
Cincinnati Reds outfield prospect Hector Rodriguez has enjoyed a power binge at the Triple-A level and is making a strong case to earn the call to the big leagues. Over his last 12 games at Triple-A Louisville, the 22-year-old has gone deep five times and added a double. During this stretch, Rodriguez has carried a .286/.375/.667 with a 1.042 OPS. Rodriguez has spent the entire 2026 campaign at the Triple-A level and has continued to flash elite power potential, going deep 23 times while posting a strong .280/.360/.538 line with a .898 OPS. Given his current pace, it appears Rodriguez seems well-positioned to join the Reds down the stretch. With recent reports suggesting the Reds are looking to sell expiring contracts at the trade deadline, Rodriguez's call to the big leagues should happen sooner rather than later.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
