The results of Hunter Greene’s afternoon appointment with Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles Thursday, Aug. 6 has an obvious ripple effect on the state of Cincinnati Reds starting pitching.
Not just for
the rest of what the club hopes is a resurgent 2026 playoff push, but into next season (if baseball is to be played at all in 2027 thanks to labor issues).
Part of the organization’s optimism into its pitching future if Greene were unavailable was on display Thursday as Opening Day starter Andrew Abbott showcased another gutsy performance in the Reds’ 6-5 win over the A’s to complete a three-game sweep at Great American Ball Park.
In his last start, Abbott gutted through a steady downpour of rain and tornado warnings to log five innings of three-run ball in a 4-1 loss to Pittsburgh. He said postgame he was content to “wear the bullet” for the rest of the pitching staff.
“You deal with it,” Abbott said.
On Thursday, Abbott dealt with the fact that his originally scheduled start against the Nationals in D.C. Friday, Aug. 7 was pushed up a day due to Greene’s return to the injured list with elbow soreness and Nick Lodolo's impending return to the rotation.
Reds manager Terry Francona approached Abbott about moving his start up a day.
"We just said, 'hey, we know you're willing to do it. Is this in your best interest?' Because we had to have a bullpen day either way," Francona said. "I said, 'we don't want to mess you up, then have a bullpen day.' He said, 'I'm fine.' We both believed it."
Abbott was in cruise control as he faced the minimum through three innings. Then in the fourth, he gave up three runs on four hits and a walk. He returned to eat up 2 2/3 more innings to aid a steadily worked group of relievers before a bullpen day in the series opener in Washington.
"I really wanted to give the bullpen as much of a break as possible. It's tough throwing a night game at 6:40 (p.m.) and then turning around and throwing in the same game at 12:40 (p.m.) the next day," Abbott said. "That's what I told Tito (Francona). I'm ready to go. It's a normal five-day rest for me. I don't need thte sixth. Just use me."
Of course, Abbott returning to his 2025 All-Star form is the first of a long line of boxes to check for the Reds to be able to successfully ride out another prolonged Greene absence.
Rhett Lowder is part of that equation, too. The starter-turned-reliever-turned starter juggled a move to the bullpen and an IL stint (shoulder)but is back in the rotation with Greene out. He fired six innings of four-hit, two-run ball in the Reds' 3-2 win over the A's on Wednesday, Aug. 5 as he looks to solidify his place for 2027.
There are multiple further factors into the Reds' pitching plans next season as The Enquirer's Gordon Wittenmyerpointed outthe uncertain future of Brady Singer and the possibility of free-agent starting pitching acquisitions this winter.
But inside the Reds' clubhouse, the team is focused on another late-season surge to a playoff spot. Abbott is a big part of that belief as he helped pitch the Reds to a 13-6 record since the All-Star break and the team's first sweep since mid-April.
Abbott was even ready to help save the bullpen despite skipping his own bullpen session and early rumors of more inclement weather on the way.
"They said there was a potential for downpours around game time and he just kind of looked at me and said, 'here we go.' It was great to see him give us some length," Tyler Stephenson said. "I think his routine was messed up, but he still went out and did a great job today."
Sal Stewart added: "He (Abbott) did that for us. That's a tough position to be in and he took the ball and got after it. That's who he is."
That willingness and team-first mentality is contagious. In June, Nick Lodolo volunteered to pitch out of the bullpen when the Reds were running out of available arms. It was the same offer he made during the Reds' September run to the postseason in 2025.
"That's probably why I get protective of these guys because I see that way more than people notice," Francona said. "I see the things they say when Trevy (Jose Trevino) goes down to Steve-O (Stephenson) saying, 'I'll catch every day.' Things like that, even when he wasn't hitting. It's a good group and I think I was pretty consistent of that even when things weren't going so good."
Stephenson added: "That's the identity of the team. That's Tito's message the whole way. We come together as a team, and we do things to help each other."
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Andrew Abbott's resiliency, willingness part of Cincinnati Reds belief
