Abbott Gets the Ball as Reds Open Critical Series at Wrigley

The Cincinnati Reds are set to open a pivotal weekend series against the first-place Chicago Cubs at historic Wrigley Field today, with rising star Andrew Abbott slated to take the mound. First pitch is set for 2:20 p.m.

Abbott has been nothing short of sensational in 2025, entering the matchup with a 4-0 record and a sparkling 1.77 ERA. The lefty will face a tall task, however, against a Cubs lineup that has been nearly unstoppable at home—winners of six straight at Wrigley and 8 of their last 10 overall.

The Reds come in at 28-29 and are hungry to climb out of the middle of the NL Central standings. They’ll look to Elly De La Cruz and Spencer Steer to spark the offense, while Tyler Stephenson continues his hot stretch behind the plate.

Chicago counters with Colin Rea (3-1, 3.28 ERA), and the Cubs bring in plenty of momentum—batting .300 over the past 10 games with dominant pitching to match.

With division implications on the line and two of the league’s most competitive teams going head-to-head, this weekend series could set the tone for the Reds’ summer playoff push.