The Cincinnati Reds head to Rate Field on Thursday, August 13, for a 2:10 PM ET matinee against the Chicago White Sox. Andrew Abbott gets the ball for Cincinnati against Chicago's Davis Martin in a matchup that gives the Reds a clear opportunity to add to their win column on the road. With a full broadcast slate available on Reds.TV and WLW 700 AM back in Cincinnati, this is a game the fanbase will be locked into from first pitch.
Reds at White Sox: Starting Pitcher Matchup on Thursday, August 13
Andrew Abbott draws the start for Cincinnati. The left-hander has shown the kind of stuff that keeps lineups off-balance — a sharp breaking ball and the ability to generate swing-and-miss counts. Every Abbott start carries the potential to be a dominating outing, and a road game against Chicago fits the profile of a spot where he can work efficiently through a lineup and keep the Reds offense in position to win.
Davis Martin gets the nod for the White Sox. Martin is a pitch-to-contact style arm who relies on keeping the ball in play and limiting walks. That approach can be effective when his defense is behind him, but it also means Cincinnati's lineup will see plenty of hittable pitches early in counts. The Reds need to capitalize on those opportunities rather than chase.
Three Keys to Watch for the Reds
- Abbott's command in the first two innings: Abbott is at his best when he establishes his breaking ball early and avoids falling behind hitters. A clean first two frames set the tone for a deep outing.
- Reds contact approach against Martin: Martin invites contact, which means Cincinnati's lineup should be looking to drive pitches in the zone and put pressure on the White Sox defense. Passive at-bats are the enemy here.
- Bullpen management: A Thursday afternoon start means the Reds will want Abbott to go deep — six-plus innings keeps the bullpen fresh heading into the rest of the series and weekend schedule.
Prediction
This is a winnable game for Cincinnati. Abbott matching up against a contact-oriented starter like Martin favors the Reds, provided Abbott brings his best stuff and the offense does its job early. Rate Field is not an easy place to play, but the matchup leans Cincinnati's way. Reds take this one, 5-3.
