Healthy Ashcraft, Lodolo could make rotation battle even tighter

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- In two different ways, Thursday was a pivotal day for what could be the makeup of the Reds starting rotation that will begin the regular season. All Graham Ashcraft and Nick Lodolo had to show, really, was that they were healthy.

Their results were promising. Ashcraft, who is coming back from September foot surgery, faced the Dodgers for his Cactus League debut. In a 5-4 Reds win, he pitched two scoreless and hitless innings with one walk and two strikeouts while throwing 21 pitches.

"The foot is the best it’s felt yet," Ashcraft said.

About an hour before Ashcraft took the mound at Goodyear Ballpark, Lodolo was wrapping up facing hitters on a practice field in live batting practice. While throwing 25 pitches over six at-bats, he faced Noelvi Marte and Jonathan India twice, plus Will Benson and Blake Dunn.

"Disgusting," India said of Lodolo's stuff.

“It felt good. I think we hit that progression, at least for now," Lodolo said. "I’ll see how I feel in the morning when I get here and everything, and we’ll figure out the next step from here.”

The Reds have 10 starters in the mix for five spots. But the only two with health concerns coming into camp were Ashcraft and Lodolo. Ashcraft's surgery repaired fractures to the big and second toes of his right foot. Lodolo was limited to seven starts in 2023 because of a stress fracture to his left tibia.

Ashcraft took little time to show his stuff was sharp. First batter Mookie Betts struck out swinging at a 99 mph cutter. Next batter Jason Heyward broke his bat twice in the same plate appearance, with a foul and a groundout to the shortstop.

"It was good today. It was good to righties and was coming all the way across the plate," Ashcraft said. "The slider, we have to work on keeping it in the zone. It got a bit away from me today. I threw one changeup to [James] Outman. It was a good day. It felt good to ramp back up with another team on the other line."

Ashcraft, 26, was 7-9 with a 4.76 ERA in 26 starts last season. He went 4-3 with a 2.58 ERA over his final 12 starts, before the foot injury ended his season a month early.

"I feel like I’m in the perfect spot I can be right now for the season," Ashcraft said.

Back at the practice field against Marte the first time, Lodolo had him stumbling as he swung and missed badly on a slider for a strikeout.

“I’ve been feeling great with it in bullpens and everything," Lodolo said. "It’s more just completing the step right now -- the progression -- and moving on to the next thing. I’m happy with the way I threw it.”

Lodolo's leg was an afterthought, at least on the mound.

“When I’m out there, I’m not thinking about it," he said. "Every other second of the day, we’re just trying to get it where it needs to be. That’s a good step right there.”

It was Lodolo's second live BP. The next step has not been determined, but getting him into a game appears to be logical.

"If today goes well, he’s going to be in good shape," Reds manager David Bell said before Lodolo pitched. "More importantly, if he wakes up tomorrow and feels good. Tomorrow might be a better day to talk about it.”

Lodolo, 26, felt like he could be ready, or close to ready, for the start of the regular season.

“I might not just be as built up as other guys. I might be a week behind them. I feel like we can probably work with that," Lodolo said. "We haven’t even talked about that part yet, but at least I’m thinking, going forward, if we can get built up enough to be manageable, we’ll be all right.”

It's been a strong first turn of games for the nine rotation candidates who have already pitched. Including Ashcraft, they have worked a combined 17 2/3 scoreless innings.