Guardians vs. Reds Wednesday MLB probable pitchers, odds: Nick Lodolo, another touted Cincinnati prospect, makes first big-league start

The Cincinnati Reds traded away many of their best players this offseason in cost-cutting moves so they probably won't be very good this year, but their future is potentially bright thanks to a pair of touted prospects on the mound: Hunter Greene already made his big-league debut and was impressive, and lefty Nick Lodolo will get his chance in today's home matinee vs. Cleveland. The Reds are -125 at Caesars Sportsbook.

The right-handed Greene was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft and is ranked as the Reds' No. 1 prospect and No. 22 in the sport. He was continually hitting triple-digit mph on Sunday in Atlanta, getting the win in allowing three runs over five innings with seven strikeouts.

Lodolo was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft (first pitcher selected) out of Texas Christian University. The 24-year-old is ranked as the No. 41 overall prospect in the majors and No. 2 on the Reds. While Greene can throw as hard as anyone, Lodolo only has a 55 grade on a scale of 20-80 on his fastball but a 60 for control and he has a plus-slider. In 13 combined starts in Double-A and Triple-A last year, he was 2-2 with a 2.31 ERA and 38 hits allowed in 50.2 innings. The 6-foot-6 Lodolo pitches down in the zone and had a 54.3 percent ground-ball rate in 2021.

"We know how talented he is," Reds manager David Bell said. "We know he's young. We know he's going to have ups and downs just like all of us do, but we really believe he's prepared for it and the way he was attacking the strike zone, throwing strikes, using all of his pitches, he doesn't have to do anything different. That that's going to be good enough."

This spring, Lodolo had a 2.38 ERA in 11.1 innings with 12 strikeouts and two walks. He surely will be on a pitch/innings limit as injuries limited him to 50 2/3 innings last year; he threw a 70-pitch simulated game Friday in Atlanta as a final tune-up for his first big-league start. Lodolo expects to have 15-20 family members and friends in the stands Wednesday.

"I'm excited. Ever since you're a kid, it's what you dream of," said Lodolo of his debut. "Now it's living that dream and everything. It will be cool that it's in Cincy. I can't really put it into words yet until it happens."

While Greene is among the betting favorites at Caesars Sportsbook priced +550 to win NL Rookie of the Year, Lodolo is +4000.

Cleveland starts 24-year-old right-hander Triston McKenzie (0-1, 6.00). He allowed two runs over three relief innings in a loss last Thursday in Kansas City.

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