Last night the Rockies beat up on the Reds pitching, and their catcher who happened to pitch the final inning as they blew out Cincinnati 13-2. This afternoon the Reds will look to pick up a win over Colorado in the final game of the 3-game set to pick up a series win. First pitch is scheduled for 12:40pm ET.
Starting Lineups
Colorado Rockies | Cincinnati Reds |
| Jordan Beck – LF | TJ Friedl – CF |
| Brenton Doyle – CF | Matt McLain – 2B |
| Hunter Goodman – C | Elly De La Cruz – SS |
| Tyler Freeman – DH | Sal Stewart – 3B |
| Willi Castro – 2B | Nathaniel Lowe – DH |
| TJ Rumfield – 1B | Tyler Stephenson – C |
| Kyle Karros – 3B | JJ Bleday – LF |
| Ezequiel Tovar – SS | Spencer Steer – 1B |
| Troy Johnston – RF | Will Benson – RF |
| Michael Lorenzen – RHP | Andrew Abbott – LHP |
Starting Pitchers
| Pitcher | IP | ERA | WHIP | BB | K |
| Andrew Abbott | 28.2 | 6.59 | 1.78 | 13 | 19 |
| Michael Lorenzen | 28.2 | 5.97 | 1.85 | 6 | 19 |
| Links: Andrew Abbott’s Stats | Michael Lorenzen’s Stats | |||||
Andrew Abbott
Since tossing six shutout innings on Opening Day, Abbott has allowed 21 earned runs in 22.2 innings pitched. He didn’t allowed 21 earned runs in 2025 until he had completed 16 starts and thrown 91.1 innings.
The splits this season have been strange for the lefty. Teams are not sending too many left-handed hitters out to face him but the ones who have gotten the chance have done tons of damage as they’re nearly hitting .500 and they are slugging over .700 against him. Righties are hitting for a high average, walking a bunch, making tons of contact against him, but they are only hitting for mediocre power.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 105 | 25 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 12 | .272 | .352 | .413 |
| LHH | 28 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | .481 | .500 | .704 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-seam | Cutter | Curve | Slider | Change | |
| Velo | 92.5 | 88.0 | 79.3 | 81.6 | 85.8 |
| Usage | 49% | 2% | 12% | 18% | 19% |
Michael Lorenzen
The former Red is now on his 6th team since leaving Cincinnati after the 2021 season. This is his first year with the Rockies and it’s been a struggle so far. He’s allowed a league worst 47 hits this season in his 28.2 innings pitched. That’s led to a 5.97 ERA so far this year.
The splits last season for Lorenzen weren’t all that big. Right-handed hitters had a small edge in slugging percentage, but everything else was basically the same. This season that hasn’t been the case. The sample size is still small but lefties are hitting .426/.446/.705 against him this season with 14 extra-base hits out of their 26 hits against him. Righties are hitting .300 against him but they aren’t hitting for much power at all so far.
2025 Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 296 | 73 | 15 | 1 | 14 | 18 | 63 | .267 | .321 | .484 |
| LHH | 310 | 76 | 15 | 3 | 11 | 21 | 64 | .268 | .319 | .458 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-sm | 2-sm | Cutter | Curve | Slider | Change | |
| Velo | 94.0 | 93.3 | 90.1 | 82.3 | 83.7 | 84.1 |
| Usage | 17% | 19% | 14% | 13% | 18% | 19% |
When and Where
- Game time: 12:40pm ET
- Where: Great American Ball Park
- Watch: Reds MLB Channel, Reds.tv (in-market), MLB.tv (out of market).
- Listen: 700 WLW AM (Cincinnati area)
- Forecast: 56°, sunny, 0% chance of rain
News and Notes
Zach Maxwell called up, Brandon Williamson to the IL
Prior to the game today the Reds called up Maxwell from Triple-A and placed Williamson on the 15-day injured list with what they are currently calling shoulder fatigue. You can read more about how Maxwell has pitched this season in our piece from this morning when the moves were announced.
Division Standings
| Team | W | L | GB | Playoff Odds |
| Cincinnati | 19 | 11 | 0.0 | 36.5% |
| Chicago | 19 | 12 | 0.5 | 74.3% |
| St. Louis | 17 | 13 | 2.0 | 16.9% |
| Milwaukee | 15 | 14 | 3.5 | 35.1% |
| Pittsburgh | 16 | 15 | 3.5 | 49.6% |
| Playoff Odds via Fangraphs | ||||
The fact that Bleday is 6th and Benson is 8th gives some insight into how Francona views the competition between the two for playing time.
In Doug’s earlier post today he said Brandon Williamson left last night’s game due to shoulder fatigue! I hope Brandon will be OK as I believe he has huge potential.
I lost interest in last night’s game due to “viewer fatigue”!
Today’s a new day! Never dwell on the past as “Done is Done”!
Just hoping the Baseball Abbott shows up today and NOT the Abbott from Abbott & Costello!
Go Reds! Win today!
I experience viewer fatigue reading comments here sometimes. Not yours, but others.
Now we’re all going to wonder, ATH.
I always enjoy yours sir!
Thank you, ATH. I always enjoy yours, as well.
Francona going lefty/righty through the whole lineup.
Call me old school, but I like seeing that.
Would never let FanGraphs handle my personal finances! Why you ask? Today’s playoff odds show the Cubs over twice as likely as the Reds to make the playoffs! Insane!
You just made me realize, Dennis, that I may now understand why my personal finances are in the state they are.
Cmon Abbott. Dont spot em 5 today.
Only 2
Progress?
The time is now for AA to rise up, but I think we will win with the offense today. Early season must win game.
Let’s just win this and move forward. Easier said than done, but still …
Game going on shortly and I’ll mute the sound. Trying not to get to distracted so I don’t pay attention in my afternoon full of meetings.
I’m only at work today because I didn’t win the Florida Lottery jackpot last night!
Neither did I, but I’m still not working.
I didn’t win the Florida jackpot either but I did stay at a Holiday Inn
Abbott this year per statcast.
Slider is historically an average value pitch, while Changeup is an above avg pitch for him. This year both are getting hit hard.
However, Curveball is overperforming historical value and is his best pitch this year. But, he only throws it 12% of the time.
Last year he introduced a cutter. It was not effective. And this year he throws it hardly at all.
Reds need Abbott pitching well and going deep today two things has been almost impossible for the lefty…The offense has to be a lot better than it was last night…We’ll see…
Abbott is not in shape in the least. Hope he doesn’t get shelled again. 1.78 WHIP.
The lineup looks good with exception of Friedl starting. I just don’t understand Francona’s thinking with keeping Friedl in as a starter and at lead-off.
It seems that Myers has done enough with his stats performance to earn an every day chance. If you have to play Friedl, then at least drop him to lower third in the order.
At least Hayes is out
That’s a move in the right direction
Benson homers last night and Sadak thinks he has a hot bat. Is this what it has come to with the lineup?
He kills me sometimes.
Gabp homerun special. Good grief. A fly out in most other parks
Well CRAP!!!
Starting in a hole again. And so close to catching it.
Dude. Can Abbott follow Williamson to the IL?
And the problem continues.
This goes back to spring training. He and the Reds have to figure this out quickly.
Try throwing inside and these guys won’t be so aggressive with outside pitches.
Benson didn’t go back on that ball well. It barely cleared the wall.
Could have been a robbery opportunity.
Get to the wall fast…he just drifted…IMO
I said the same thing. He was playing deep. Just run back to the wall and then make your adjustments. But he has a hot bat.
Nope right field has been a big mess and for the most part so has the whole outfield.Hindsight is 20/20 but I have to wonder if the Reds just didn’t go with a knee jerk reaction when they sent Marte down.I mean has to be over 70 at bats of more for the right fielder since he was sent down.Could he have down any worse with those at bats?Cards going young and the 23 year old at second just hit his 7th homer today.Now has an OPS well over 800 and Walker in his 4th year and what 24 years old is getting it done as well.Sometimes you just have to let the young players play.
Of course the HR allowed by Abbott was preceded by a WALK! No HR is good but a solo HR is preferred!
Crouch Friedl!!!! It’s what got you here. Stop worrying about the ABS because you are going to strike out anyways.
Hanging slider.
MMC misses it for the K
My fear today is that the Reds are going to get beat by another former Reds pitcher in Mikey Biceps much like last week in Tampa by Nick Martinez!
It’s time for Abbott to step up….no excuse for how poor he has been this year
Is this a continuation of yesterday’s game? Come on
Ellie’s defense lately has been gold glove caliber.
Elly. That’s all I got.
Two SOs to start the game is not giving me the warm and fuzzies for the Reds offense today! Why do the Reds struggle with teams like the Rockies?
They don’t, they have basically owned the rockies of late. Winning I think 15 of last 18??
Another Gem by Elly
WOW!
To dive that far on the 2B side and still get up and make a strong accurate throw.
Amazing
His transfer from glove to throwing hand was lightning fast. He;s playing like a man on a mission.
Two SOs by Reds batters in the first inning is concerning!
Hey Abbott! Can you please go one inning without a walk? Please!
Thank you Nate
On the board.
Better … 😐
Wondering when Stephenson is gonna start being a threat in the lineup…weak at-bats most of the year
Contract year and he may be pressing or it could be he is declining some.Will be 30 in August.
Reds numbers
Still early, but a trend nonetheless
Day Games – 206/.293/.328
Night games – .233/.325/.435
Will Benson is so easy to root for.
I agree, Kevin. He is also the 26th man, and i find it easy to root for those guys, as well. Some teams have an infielder who gives them speed and defense in that role. Some teams, such as us, have an outfielder. As an OF, Will Benson faces the greater expectations of more offense than the proverbial ‘light-hitting utility infielder.’ But we use Lowe, Geno and, in theory, Steer as our extra infielders, with McLain the backup SS. Our bench pop comes there. So, it’s the great tradeoff. So, no more Santiago Espinals, for now. Instead, Will Benson. It’s fine by me. He is 26 out of 26. So it goes, as Billy Pilgrim would say.
Reds had Mikey on the ropes he walks one and on 3-1 we swing and again on 2-0 we swing and the inning is over.Now they may have been strikes and good pitches so I will leave it alone.Could be they just missed like MM missed the hanger in the first.
Baseball is such a mental game. Abbott for whatever has lost it. As he paints the corner. LOL.
Lets hope this game is where he finds that moxy.
He, for some reason, is afraid to pitch inside to right handed hitters.
Old school pitchers like Don Drysdale, Bob Gibson and Nolan Ryan used to pitch inside and challenge hitters! That style of pitching is a lost art by today SPs as they want to finesse and nibble!
Yep, noticed that as well.
Not much talk anymore about moving Elly to the outfield these days
All things considered, Abbott is not pitching poorly….one hit through three innings.
EDLC has no interest in playing CF and has made that clear to the organization. So, it really doesn’t matter how fans speculate going forward.
Nice 9-pitch inning by Abbott! Now let’s light up Mikey Biceps!
AA is a fly ball pitcher and at home he will give up some homers and some cheap ones.Just can’t walk people any time but at GABP like in yesterday’s game it will cost.Reds needed to be more patient last inning after Mikey walked one and was struggling to find the plate.
I like Friedl – but leadoff man HAS to be
better than .183 , period !
Yeah, I am growing impatient as well in regards to him leading off.
Like him as a player, lol
Skenes has thrown 60+ pitches in 3 innings and given up 2 bombs. Pirates have 2 infield errors and Cards up 4-0, poised for the rare 4 game sweep.
Abbott needs to tighten up the ship, give them and good 6-7 innings and offense needs to kick in to gear. Big 7 games coming up.
So, curious question and taking out feelings. Has Lowe earned a spot in lineup? If so, then Hayes sit or Suarez when he comes back?
Me personally I think Suarez and Lowe in same lineup daily is a must.
Lowe will play a good bit I hope. But rotation among the 3 for 2 spots. I could see Hayes getting more LHP and Lowe less, even though Lowe historically hits LHP OK.
Lorenzo can be a tough pitcher at times. Reds have been great overall this season but you kind of look at the lineup, especially the outfield Offensively and Defensively the last 2 games and wonder if this is a team that has the talent to win 85-90 games.
Atta boy, Andrew
The thing I’m impressed the most about Elly and his improvement on defense is his quick transfer out of his glove.
His throwing accuracy has taken a step forward this year too. I do wonder if Hayes has helped him in that regard.
Abbott with a nice start so far. Pitch efficient, only blemish was the Right field HR in the 1st that probably wouldn’t be a HR in any other park.
Well, the Reds dodged a couple of bullets there in the fifth.
Now they need to get the offense going.
Watching the team as a whole. They are so much more fundamentally sound. Tito effect??
Good escape by Abbot. Hope that builds his confidence.
Great zero by Abbott…despite being unlucky could bounce back…now go to score some runs!!
OK-this is where we knock lorenzen around…it’s go time
That a boy Friedl!!
Ah yes the GABP homerun strikes again!! This time in Reds favor!!
There ya go TJ ! Much better , much better !
Well I just commented on the lineup and outfield the last few days and Steer and Friedl proving me wrong and impatient!
They will get many many many more chances to prove your right or wrong.I will settle for what their career numbers say they are at the plate.Right now its easy to pick on them but Steer was patient this at bat and walked and Friedl gets the GABP special and its all good.
Friedl got a good swing in that fastball. C’mon Reds
Stepped into the house to make coffee … came back to us having the lead. I like that.
I just got back from taking the GSD for a walk in the rainy, 44 degree weather. Maybe my absence helped.
@greenmtred. Where the heck do lo
I’ve where it’s 44degrees and raining. I just got the chills thinking about that
3 seconds left and Lorenzen not even ready yet and Elly calls time. Ugh
That got garbled somehow sorry about that
there shoud never be an AB by Elly where he does not swing at a single pitch and strikes out
I wonder if he has a hard time though picking up the ball as it comes “at him ” and then inside corner. Seen him do that a few times.
Lowe is making himself a much needed staple in the Reds lineup.
No doubt and his track record of a 116 OPS+ says it.He could hit 25 homers easy at GABP cause that right center gap is just made for him and his swing.When Geno gets back,Reds have to figure out a way to get them both along with Sal in the lineup every day,not just once in awhile but every day.On a team that is hurting for offense it is a no brainer.I get it somebody has to set but if Hayes or MM don’t pick it up at the plate it just has to be done.Lowe can’t watch from the bench he has to play.
Agree Roger!!
It depends on how the team in general is hitting. Defense has been a significant contributor to their success, so, no, it doesn’t have to be done. Either Lowe or Suarez will start anyway, and so, obviously, will Sal.
Battle of the bullpens. probably coming up. Lorenzen and Abbott kind of both grinders pitching wise. Rockies seem respectable, nice job by their front office turning it around a bit, maybe next year they’re competing for a wild card.
Sal in a little slump. 2-15.
Bench him
Lowe having better offense numbers than Suarez at this point is interesting…
That a boy Spencer
Stephenson seems to have regressed a fair amount as a hitter, I wonder what has happened with his approach. But it seems maybe he’s better defensively, so maybe a trade off.
There aren’t any free agent catchers worth signing next year. Contreras(Mil) but I think that’s a team option so he will get resigned. Duno won’t be ready so I’m not sure what the Reds will do.
I was wondering too what the plan will be next year. Maybe you just bring Stephenson back if they feel he’s solid defensively. But I think probably they’ll look for the best defensive catcher who can start 120 games and go that direction.
he has just regressed so much as a hitter….weak contact, strikes out a lot…he just seems like he has no clue when he’s at the plate
I’m pretty sure that Stephenson, at a recent point this season, had the hard hit % on the team.
Benson has hit the ball hard today. Yet a 0 for to show for it.
Steer responds to the intentional walk and you have to love that.GO REDS
Reds bullpen walks way to many batters. They are doing great but need to clean that up.
30)Houston-80
29)CWS- 79
28) Reds -72
Ouch!!
Connor Phillips, gotta clean up the walks. Yet, what a comeback story from a couple years ago. To where he is today.
Strikes out Goodman for the 3rd out!!
In little positives , our lead off hitter is hitting better than theirs!
Haha, after those LH hitters, Phillips was just dyin’ to throw his sweeper three times in a row to a RH hitter.
Lowe has been a pretty great pick up. Seems to really like hitting with the short porch in GABP.
I know he turns 31 in July, but I would consider offering him a 3 year contract to finish his career in Cincinnati.
I’d offer 3 years and 18 million. Could be an absolute steal.
Looking at his stats, it’s kind of baffling why he is so lightly regarded. He has put up well-above average OPS+ at every team he has played for… Except 119 games for Washington last season. Who knows what happened there, but once he got to Boston, he went right back to being a well above average hitter. Yet he couldn’t find a job this past off-season.
I don’t get it.
But he looks like he could be a much needed power bar addition to the Reds, and they should pay him to stick around for a few years and keep hitting them into the sun/moon deck.
Especially for a team that has never had a good DH.
The Reds signed him to a minor league contract with $1.75M in ML after he was called up.
After 58 PAs in MLB, he’s not suddenly worth $18M on the open market.
You may be surprised Hype. Hays at $5M to the White Sox. If Lowe continues this to the AS break, his time in DC is anomalous. And unless his fielding has sorely regressed he’s not stuck at DH.
After his time in DC, he had a .790 OPS with the Red Sox after the deadline. That got him a minor league deal.
58 PAs doesn’t change that narrative. Maybe a full season of similar production would. But that’s a big assumption and it would be his best season ever by far.
Hype, Lowe has put up OPS+ numbers in the 120 range. That kind of production is easily worth $6m.
Just for comparison, Lowe’s career OPS+ is 5 points higher than Suarez. His OPS+ in Boston last year was basically identical to Suarez’s OPS+ last year, which is also the same number Lowe put up in 2024.
Easily worth $6m.
Top of the order up and down on 5 pitches.I guess it could have been only 3.Works for me so get 6 more outs and call in a good win and day.
Rockies 3 outs on 5 pitches. Both teams ready to hit the plane and make their dinner reservations early
Again works for me old-school.
That a boy tyler
Nice to see Stephenson get a knock. Hopefully they gets him going!!
Need him desperately. Can’t depend on Trevino
OK so much for the quick inning,dinner can wait so add on a run or two or more.
That wasn’t even close Myers. Taking your challenge card away from you. NO CHALLENGE FOR YOU
All Myers has done is produce at the plate (1 AB -1 RBI today) and play gold glove D. He needs to be in the lineup everyday!
Lol
Def No Challenge For You!
But I do want to know if he has a certain license plate.
Feeling better about now …
Even better now 😀
Right up until Larkin called him Spence.
Doesn’t quite fit does it.
Spencer again
This must be very disappointing for Brett.
Not at all. He’ll just troll about something else.
He will never recover.
I do believe I heard an F-bomb drop on that pop-up … 😮
Loud and clear
I suppose it’s pointless to invest much in it, but I wish Pagan would make this a drama-free half inning.
Too late.
He is like a box of chocolates. Never know what your gonna get!!! Hahahaha
I can laugh now at your comment, Kevin, but I couldn’t until a moment ago
Understand Greenmtred!!
To late for that.
And just like that the tying run is at the plate.
If we could get Geno back and a productive Marte, I might like this lineup.
Benson was a borderline tender this offseason, and probably should not have been tendered at all. He is most definitely getting tendered again next year. They might as well send him down and let him be insurance that we hope we don’t need.
Nice guy, not a major leaguer.
He is most definitely NOT getting tendered again next year.
Is Benson the best defensive right fielder though on the team? I’m not sure but that could keep him here. Maybe Hinds but not sure he’s gonna stay up.
He’s an average to slightly above defender with a sub .700 OPS for the last 3 years in a position you should expect offense from.
Unless he is best in baseball at defense, his defense is irrelevant if he can’t hit.
Reds will enter May in first place.
Pagan likes to make it exciting, give the fans their money’s worth! Reds keep winning 2 out of 3, nice.
I was hoping Elly would break the Reds record for HRs in April.
Oh well, maybe he can break the record for May.
Stuck in meetings at work most of the afternoon! Huge win and nice bounce back outing by Abbott!
Good outing by AA and timely hitting.Good to see offense respond without Elly or Sal doing most of the damage.Big two runs in the eighth was the difference.Pagan at 94/95 works but not in the center of the plate.Reds are now 20-11 which is a great start to 2026.GO REDS
Was able to listen to the final two innings. Got scary there for a minute! 1st place after a month is a lot cooler than the alternative to that. Lets keep the winning going.