Nick Lodolo's breaking ball grip change is showing up in the numbers — and not in a good way. As of Tuesday, September 15, 2026, a reported adjustment to how the Cincinnati Reds left-hander grips his breaking ball has coincided with a notable decline in both his strikeout rate and his whiff rate. With the Reds still playing meaningful regular-season baseball, a drop in swing-and-miss ability from a frontline starter is exactly the kind of development the organization needs to address quickly.

What the Grip Change Has Done to Lodolo's Effectiveness

The breaking ball has long been one of Lodolo's primary weapons. When it's sharp, it gives hitters a pitch they genuinely cannot square up. But a grip alteration — however well-intentioned — has apparently taken the bite off that offering. The result is a breaking ball that is generating fewer whiffs and, by extension, fewer strikeouts.

Strikeout rate and whiff rate are two of the clearest indicators of a pitcher's ability to put hitters away. A decline in both simultaneously points directly at a loss of deception or movement on that specific pitch. For a power lefty like Lodolo, that's a significant red flag heading into the final stretch of the regular season.

What We Know Right Now

  • Lodolo's breaking ball grip has been changed, per reporting from Charlie's Chalkboard.
  • His strikeout rate and whiff rate have dropped in connection with that adjustment.
  • This development was reported as of September 15, 2026, during the 2026 regular season.
  • The Reds have not publicly confirmed whether the grip change will be reversed or further modified.

Why This Matters for the Reds

Lodolo is a key piece of Cincinnati's rotation. When he's missing bats with his breaking ball, he's a difficult pitcher to solve. When that pitch loses its edge, he becomes far more hittable. The Reds need answers here — and they need them fast. Whether this is a mechanical fix that can be made between starts or a deeper issue with how the pitch is being built, the performance data is telling a story the coaching staff cannot ignore.