Photo (edited): Minda Haas Kuhlmann. License here.
The Cincinnati Reds will go for a series win on Saturday night if Mother Nature allows it. Storms are rolling through Cincinnati this evening, so the wait may be a while if the game winds up being played. If they get on the field, though, the Pittsburgh Pirates will be trying to keep a series split alive after dropping the first two games. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40pm ET.
Starting LineupsStarting Pitchers
Andrew Abbott
The tough start to 2026 is well behind Abbott at this point. While he hasn’t quite gotten back to his All-Star level he was at in 2025, over his last 16 starts he’s posted a 2.95 ERA while throwing 88.1 innings. He’s faced the Pirates twice this season and neither start went particularly well as he allowed four runs in 5.2 innings in a loss on April 1st and took a no decision in what turned out as a Reds win when he allowed three runs in 5.1 innings on June 26th.
Much like the overall numbers for Abbott don’t quite reflect how he’s pitched lately, the same can be said for his splits. He’s dominated lefties since his final start in April, but they obliterated him prior to that and his numbers against them haven’t fully recovered from that. Teams haven’t been sending many left-handed hitters out to face him, and the righties who have seen him haven’t been more than mediocre against him.
Splits
SplitPAH2B3BHRBBKAVGOBPSLGRHH3617481134554.237.332.394LHH14434704940.258.299.402
Pitch Usage
4-seamCutterCurveSliderChangeVelo92.588.479.682.185.8Usage46%2%14%20%18%
Braxton Ashcraft
A 2026 All-Star in his first full season in the big leagues, Ashcraft as struggled quite a bit in his last three outings. Facing the Brewers, Yankees, and Cubs he’s given up 16 earned runs in 14.0 innings during that time as his ERA has jumped from 3.24 to 4.05. Ashcraft has faced the Reds twice this season and allowed two runs in his 13.2 innings pitched between his start in March and early May.
The splits against Ashcraft are noticeable. He’s holding righties to a so-so average, never walks them, and when they do get hits they show absolutely no power. Left-handed hitters are hitting for a solid average and when they get hits they are showing plenty of power. Lefties, like their counterparts, aren’t walking much.
Splits
SplitPAH2B3BHRBBKAVGOBPSLGRHH20947903847.237.268.328LHH29868112132288.256.320.459
Pitch Usage
4-seam2-seamCurveSliderChangeVelo97.296.984.991.891.8Usage32%14%26%23%5%When and WhereGame time: 6:40pm ETWhere: Great American Ball ParkWatch: Reds MLB Channel, Reds.tv (in-market), MLB.tv (out of market).Listen: 700 WLW AM (Cincinnati area)Forecast: 77°, cloudy, 70% chance of rainNews and Notes
Brandon Williamson on rehab
The lefty is starting for Double-A Chattanooga tonight as he begin a rehab assignment. He hasn’t pitch in two months since going on the injured list in late April with what was called left shoulder fatigue.
Division StandingsTeamWLGBPlayoff OddsMilwaukee68410.099.9%Chicago62486.592.0%Pittsburgh555614.025.2%St. Louis545614.59.7%Cincinnati525716.03.1%Playoff Odds via Fangraphs About The Author