The Cincinnati Reds head to Rate Field on Thursday, August 13, 2026, for a 2:10 PM ET afternoon matchup against the Chicago White Sox. Andrew Abbott gets the ball for Cincinnati opposite Chicago's Davis Martin in a game that offers the Reds a chance to pick up a road win against one of the American League's rebuilding clubs. Coverage is available on Reds.TV and WLW 700 AM for fans back home in Cincinnati.

Andrew Abbott Starts for Cincinnati Against Chicago's Davis Martin

Abbott takes the mound as Cincinnati's scheduled starter, squaring off against Davis Martin for the White Sox. Neither pitcher's current season numbers were available at time of publication, so the onus is on Abbott to go out and set the tone early. The left-hander has shown the ability to generate swing-and-miss stuff, and Rate Field's spacious dimensions can play to a pitcher's advantage on a summer afternoon when the air hangs heavy off Lake Michigan.

Martin has had opportunities to develop within Chicago's rebuild, but the White Sox rotation has been a work in progress. Abbott will need to be sharp regardless — road starts carry their own challenges, and a flat outing can unravel quickly.

Cincinnati Reds Lineup at Chicago White Sox

• Elly De La Cruz, SS
• Sal Stewart, 1B
• JJ Bleday, LF
• Tyler Stephenson, C
• Eugenio Suárez, DH
• Dane Myers, CF
• Héctor Rodríguez, RF
• Matt McLain, 2B
• Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B

Chicago White Sox Lineup

• Chase Meidroth, 2B
• Randal Grichuk, DH
• Miguel Vargas, 1B
• Braden Montgomery, RF
• Brenton Doyle, CF
• Colson Montgomery, 3B
• Edgar Quero, C
• Sam Antonacci, LF
• Luisangel Acuña, SS

Three Keys to Watch Thursday

• Elly De La Cruz setting the table: De La Cruz batting leadoff means Cincinnati's most dynamic offensive threat is getting the maximum number of plate appearances. When De La Cruz is on base, the entire complexion of an inning changes. His ability to reach and create havoc on the bases will be central to how the Reds generate offense against Martin.
• Tyler Stephenson in the cleanup spot: Stephenson hitting fourth signals how much this lineup leans on him as a run-producer. If the top of the order — De La Cruz, Sal Stewart, and JJ Bleday — does its job, Stephenson will have chances to do real damage with men on base.
• Abbott's command and pitch mix: Against a White Sox lineup that includes veterans like Randal Grichuk and Miguel Vargas alongside younger pieces, Abbott will need to keep the ball down and work efficiently. A long outing from Abbott would be a significant positive for a Reds bullpen that benefits from starter depth on any given day.

Prediction

This is a favorable spot for Cincinnati on paper. Abbott pitching on the road against a Chicago club still finding its identity gives the Reds a real opportunity. The lineup, led by De La Cruz at the top and Stephenson in the heart of the order, has enough firepower to put runs on the board against Martin. Expect a competitive game, but the Reds get out of Rate Field with a road win.

Reds 5, White Sox 3.