Through 11.0 IP across four starts so far in Cactus League play this spring, Andrew Abbott hasn’t exactly flashed his best stuff. He’s yielded 12 earned runs on 16 hits in that span, with four of those hits leaving the yard altogether. He has struck out 14 batters in that time, which is great, and that’s come against only 4 walks, but it would be a very nice confidence boost for all parties involved if he can put up a slightly more successful line at least once before getting the ball on Opening
Day.
On Monday afternoon, he’ll get yet another chance. Abbott will start for the Reds as they take on the Arizona Diamondbacks on the road at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.
Abbott will be backed by a strong lineup, one that will feature a trio of left-handed hitters who are, in all reality, fighting with each other for the final spots on the bench for Opening Day – JJ Bleday, Will Benson, and Nate Lowe.
First pitch in this one is slated for 4:10 PM ET, though sadly there will once again be no televised coverage. For the action on the radio, you can tune in to 1360 WSAI.
Here’s Redleg Nation’s Doug Gray with the full travel roster for the day, one that includes top prospects Tyson Lewis and Carlos Jorge, former 1st round pick Austin Hendrick, and Rece Hinds – who is also firmly in the mix for one of the final bench spots on the Opening Day roster, too.
