The Cincinnati Reds have not been known for their pitching success over the past few seasons, even after using multiple recent top draft picks on rotation help.
With pitchers Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo struggling to stay healthy and the rest of the rotation usually filled with question marks or journeymen, they needed to find consistent innings somewhere.
And consistent innings they found.
Making his MLB debut last year, Reds pitcher Andrew Abbott went 8-6 with a 3.87 ERA while striking out 120 batters in 109.1 innings pitched. He has taken the next step in 2024.
He’s 9-6 with a 3.06 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 103 innings pitched, and Abbott has been one of the best pitchers in baseball over his last seven starts.
Going 6-1 with a 2.70 ERA and 36 strikeouts during the seven-game stretch, the young pitcher has featured his fastball more this season and the results have been positive.
The 25-year-old left-hander is coming off perhaps his best out of the season, producing seven shutout innings while allowing only three hits and striking out eight Rockies hitters on Monday night.
His full arsenal was on display, proving how tough he is to hit when he can control his fastball.