Looking to defend its Ohio Cup title from 2025, the Cincinnati Reds (23-21) head north this weekend for the first game of a three-game series with in-state rival Cleveland Guardians (24-21). First pitch is at 7:10 PM EDT.
The Guardians are currently in first place in the AL Central, though it’s not because of their hitting. They are towards the bottom of the AL with a .687 team OPS. It’s the pitching that is keeping them above .500, with a 3.81 team ERA that is 5th in the AL and 420 strikeouts, good for 1st in the AL.
Lineups
Cincinnati Reds
|
Cleveland Guardians |
| Will Benson – CF | Steven Kwan – CF |
| Elly De La Cruz – SS | José Ramirez – 3B |
| Sal Stewart – 1B | Chase DeLauter – RF |
| JJ Bleday – LF | Rhys Hoskins – 1B |
| Spencer Steer – RF | David Fry – DH |
| Nathaniel Lowe – DH | Angel Martínez – LF |
| Matt McLain – 2B | Travis Bazzana – 2B |
| Tyler Stephenson – C | Patrick Bailey – C |
| Ke’Bryan Hayes – 3B | Brayan Rocchio – SS |
Starting Pitchers
Andrew Abbott
After a rough month of April, left-hander Andrew Abbott has started to look better in May. In his last three starts, he’s allowed just two runs on 12 hits in 17.2 innings for a 1.02 ERA. He’s struck out 14 in that timespan, but he’s also walked seven. While Abbott has really struggled in his home starts this season, he hasn’t pitched too badly on the road. He’s got a 2.87 ERA in 15.2 innings on the road. He’s only allowed five earned runs in three road starts, but his WHIP on the road is close to 1.6. This is because he’s walked nine batters while surrendering 16 hits in those 15.2 innings.
Abbott has some reverse splits so far this season, though it’s a small sample size because he hasn’t faced many left-handed hitters. He’s given up 16 hits to lefties in 45 plate appearances, including two home runs. He does still have a better strike out rate against lefties as compared to right-handed hitters.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB% | K% | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 158 | 34 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 11% | 12% | .245 | .329 | .360 |
| LHH | 45 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4% | 31% | .372 | .400 | .512 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-Seam | Sweeper | Change | Curve | Cutter | |
| Velo | 92.5 | 81.7 | 85.8 | 79.4 | 86.7 |
| Usage | 46.4% | 20.2% | 19.9% | 13.2% | 0.3% |
Tanner Bibee
If it wasn’t for one start in April in Atlanta, right-hander Tanner Bibee would have a much better pitching line that he currently does. In that game against the Braves, Bibee pitched only 4.2 innings, giving up eight runs on 11 hits. Even with that start, his ERA is still 4.17 on the season. His last start against Minnesota, Bibee pitched six innings, allowing just one hit–a home run–while walking two and striking out nine in 6.0 innings.
Bibee is tough on lefties. He has 31 strikeouts against left-handed batters in 107 plate appearances this season. However, he has given up five home runs to lefties, compared to only two long balls to right-handed hitters. His best pitch is his changeup, and it has a whiff rate of 45.5% this season. He has had some success with his cutter (12 strikeouts and a 38.4% whiff rate), but that’s also the pitch in which he’s given up four of the five home runs he’s allowed.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB% | K% | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 87 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 8% | 16% | .300 | .356 | .425 |
| LHH | 107 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 10% | 29% | .200 | .290 | .389 |
Pitch Usage
| Cutter | 4-Seam | Change | 2-Seam | Curve | Sweeper | |
| Velo | 86.0 | 94.2 | 81.0 | 94.1 | 77.7 | 82.8 |
| Usage | 27.4% | 24.4% | 19.1% | 16.1% | 12.1% | 0.9% |
Game Details:
- When: 7:10 PM EDT
- Where: Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
- TV: Reds MLB Channel; Reds.TV (in-market); MLB.TV (out-of-market)
- Radio: 700 WLW (Cincinnati area)
- Forecast: 64 degrees, partly sunny, 1% chance of rain
News, Notes and Pregame Reading
Injury Update
According to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com, Eugenio Suarez was taking batting practice tonight in Cleveland after his latest MRI cleared him to begin on-field, pregame work.
Abbott and Science
Down on the Farm
Division Standings
| Team | W | L | GB | Fangraph’s Playoff Odds |
| Chicago | 28 | 16 | – | 83.9% |
| Milwaukee | 24 | 17 | 2.5 | 59.6% |
| St. Louis | 25 | 18 | 2.5 | 58.1% |
| Pittsburgh | 24 | 20 | 4.0 | 26.6% |
| Cincinnati | 23 | 21 | 5.0 | 12.7% |