The Cincinnati Reds host the Philadelphia Phillies at Great American Ball Park on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, with first pitch set for 7:10 PM ET. Left-hander Andrew Abbott gets the ball for Cincinnati in what shapes up as a marquee mid-summer matchup between two National League clubs. Philadelphia has not announced a probable starter. The game airs locally on Reds.TV and nationally on NBCSP, with radio coverage on WLW 700.

Andrew Abbott Starts for Cincinnati Against Philadelphia

Abbott draws the assignment in what is one of the higher-profile home dates of the Reds' summer schedule. The southpaw has been a fixture in Cincinnati's rotation and gives the Reds a left-handed option against a Phillies lineup that carries legitimate offensive threats from top to bottom. Philadelphia has not yet confirmed their starter, which adds a layer of uncertainty to pregame preparation for the Reds' hitters.

Cincinnati Starting Lineup for July 7

• 1. Elly De La Cruz — SS
• 2. Sal Stewart — 1B
• 3. JJ Bleday — LF
• 4. Eugenio Suárez — 3B
• 5. Nathaniel Lowe — DH
• 6. Spencer Steer — RF
• 7. Tyler Stephenson — C
• 8. TJ Friedl — CF
• 9. Matt McLain — 2B

Elly De La Cruz leads off and anchors the lineup from the shortstop position. The lineup construction puts Eugenio Suárez in the cleanup spot at third base, with Nathaniel Lowe slotting in at DH behind him. Tyler Stephenson handles the catching duties, and Matt McLain rounds out the order at second base batting ninth.

Keys to Watch at Great American Ball Park

Abbott's Command Against a Deep Philadelphia Lineup

The Phillies are capable of doing damage against any pitcher who leaves pitches in the zone. Abbott's ability to work both sides of the plate and keep Philadelphia off the bases early will go a long way toward determining how long he lasts and how much stress he puts on Cincinnati's bullpen.

De La Cruz Setting the Table

With De La Cruz at the top of the order, the Reds have a legitimate table-setter who can also change a game with his legs. If he gets on base and applies pressure, it opens the lineup for Stewart, Bleday, and Suárez to drive runs in early.

Philadelphia's Unknown Starter

Until Philadelphia names their arm, the Reds' hitters can't fully game-plan. That uncertainty cuts both ways — it's a mild disadvantage for Cincinnati's preparation, but it also means the Phillies haven't locked in an ace-level option as of this writing.

Prediction

This is a winnable game for Cincinnati at home. Abbott gives the Reds a capable left-handed presence, and a lineup that runs De La Cruz through Suárez has the firepower to support him. The biggest variable remains who Philadelphia sends to the mound. If Abbott can log six-plus innings and limit traffic, the Reds take this one in front of the Great American Ball Park crowd. Reds 4, Phillies 3.