The Cincinnati Reds head to Truist Park on Wednesday, September 23, for a 7:15 PM ET showdown with the Atlanta Braves. Andrew Abbott gets the ball for Cincinnati against Chris Sale in what shapes up as one of the more compelling pitching matchups of the Reds' final stretch of the regular season. With roster spots and individual performances on the line as September winds down, every start carries real weight — and Abbott squaring off against a proven left-hander in Sale gives this one an edge worth paying attention to.

Reds vs. Braves Starting Pitchers: Abbott Faces Sale at Truist Park

Andrew Abbott draws the assignment for Cincinnati. The left-hander has been one of the more interesting developmental stories in the Reds rotation, and a road start in Atlanta against a lineup with legitimate veteran hitters is exactly the kind of test that reveals where he stands. For the Braves, Chris Sale takes the mound — a pitcher with a long track record of missing bats and pitching deep into games when healthy.

Neither pitcher's current-season ERA or win-loss record is available in the data at hand, so we'll let the matchup speak for itself: Abbott has earned his spot in this rotation, and Sale is the kind of arm the Reds offense has to gameplan for carefully.

Cincinnati Reds Lineup Wednesday at Atlanta

• Juan Brito, RF
• Elly De La Cruz, SS
• Sal Stewart, 1B
• Dane Myers, CF
• Eugenio Suárez, DH
• Matt McLain, 2B
• Oswaldo Cabrera, LF
• Will Banfield, C
• Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B

Atlanta Braves Lineup Wednesday vs. Cincinnati

• Drake Baldwin, C
• Mauricio Dubón, LF
• Matt Olson, 1B
• Ozzie Albies, 2B
• Michael Harris II, CF
• Austin Riley, 3B
• Sean Murphy, DH
• Brewer Hicklen, RF
• Ha-Seong Kim, SS

Keys to Watch for the Reds Against Atlanta

• Elly De La Cruz batting second: Slotting De La Cruz into the two-hole keeps him in position to do damage early and often. His combination of speed and power at the top of the order is a genuine weapon if he gets on base against Sale.
• Abbott limiting the middle of Atlanta's order: Olson, Albies, Harris, and Riley form a formidable stretch in the Atlanta lineup. Abbott's ability to navigate that group — particularly getting through it more than once — will define the Reds' chances of winning this ballgame.
• Eugenio Suárez as the DH: Suárez in the five-spot gives Cincinnati a veteran presence with pop. His plate discipline and willingness to battle deep into counts could be valuable against a pitcher like Sale who works off his strikeout stuff.
• Bullpen readiness: If Abbott runs into trouble early against this Braves lineup, the Reds will need their relief corps to be sharp. September bullpen depth gets tested in environments exactly like this one.

Prediction: Reds Game Preview for September 23 at Atlanta

This is a tough road assignment. Truist Park is not a friendly venue, Sale is a capable starter, and the Braves lineup has enough firepower to punish any mistakes. That said, Abbott is capable of keeping the Reds in this game, and Cincinnati's lineup — led by De La Cruz and given a boost by Suárez — has enough to be competitive. Call it a close game that comes down to which bullpen blinks first. Reds 4, Braves 3.

Catch all the action on Reds.TV or on the radio at 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan and WLW 700. First pitch is set for 7:15 PM ET.