Nicholas Lodolo: Everything you need to know

Lodolo (0-1) took the loss Friday, giving up four runs on five hits and a walk over 5.1 innings as the Red were routed 10-0 by the Astros. He struck out two. Making his first start of the season after a blister issue cost him the first six weeks, Lodolo tossed 53 of 78 pitches for strikes but served up a pair of two-run homers, one by Zach Dezenzo in the second inning and the other by Yordan Alvarez in the sixth. Lodolo didn't shy away from using all his pitches and his fingers appeared to emerge from the outing unscathed, but his velocity did decline in his final inning of work. The southpaw will look to build up his stamina and sharpen his command in his next trip to the mound, which is set to come at home next week against the Nationals.

The Reds activated Lodolo (finger) from the 15-day injured list Friday. After missing the first six weeks of the season with a blister on his left index finger, Lodolo is set to make his season debut Friday with a start at home against the Astros. The left-hander threw 79 pitches in his final rehab start, so he's not expected to have any real workload limitations. Lodolo contributed a 3.33 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 156:31 K:BB across 156.2 innings for Cincinnati last season.

Lodolo (finger) expects to face no workload limitations when he's activated from the 15-day injured list to start Friday's game against the Astros in Cincinnati, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. Lodolo, who has been on the shelf all season while recovering from a blister on his left index finger, met with team officials following his rehab start Saturday with Triple-A Louisville and received the green light to make his next appearance with the Reds. The left-hander threw 79 pitches in his third and final rehab outing, including "16 or 17" sliders, which is the pitch that originally caused the blister.