The Cincinnati Reds were forced to adjust their plans Tuesday, scratching left-hander Nick Lodolo from his scheduled start against the Toronto Blue Jays due to illness. Instead, Scott Barlow will open the game as the Reds prepare for a full bullpen day, with Lodolo pushed back in the rotation.
Manager Terry Francona explained before the game that Lodolo was dealing with a fever and chills. The news was first reported by Charlie Goldsmith of Fox19, who also noted additional roster moves.
Reiver Sanmartin has been called up to the big league roster, while fellow lefty Sam Moll has been optioned to Triple-A Louisville. To make room on the 40-man roster, right-handed reliever Joe La Sorsa was designated for assignment.
Sanmartin has impressed this season with Louisville, posting a 2.79 ERA across 58 innings. Since the All-Star break, he’s been dominant — allowing just two runs over 21.1 innings (0.84 ERA) while holding opposing hitters to a .184 batting average. His recent form has been especially sharp, tossing nine scoreless innings over his last four appearances with 10 strikeouts and no walks.
For the Reds, Tuesday’s game will be a heavy lift for the bullpen, and the timing is far from ideal. Though the club has an off day Thursday to recover, the quick turnaround could leave some arms unavailable for Wednesday’s series finale against Toronto. That likely means extra pressure on the Reds’ starter to provide as much length as possible.
