Reds Get A Look At Paul Skenes But Pittsburgh Pirates Must Face Andrew Abbott

 

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Reds batters will be challenged by one if not the best pitching talent in baseball, Paul Skenes.

No slouch himself, Andrew Abbott gets to challenge Pittsburgh Pirates hitters.

The outcome will determine who wins this intra divisional series in the National League Central.

Skenes and Abbott are both making their second starts of the season. They have mirror image stories to tell. Abbott did not have a good spring. He pitched in six games in the Arizona Cactus League with poor results. The 26-year old left hander, allowed 23 runs over 17 2/3 innings, yet manager Terry Francona named him the opening day starter. He proved worthy with six scoreless innings against the Boston Red Sox.

Skenes went the other way. He was brilliant in the Grapefruit League in Florida, although it was a smaller sample. The 23-year old right hander pitched in two games. The LSU graduate allowed one run in 6 1/3 innings. His outings were limited due to his participation in the World Baseball Classic for the United States, runner up team. 

Skenes pitched four innings against Mexico and allowed one run in 4 1/3 innings against the Dominican Republic. He had a 1.08 ERA in the WBC and struck out nine batters.

Unlike Abbott Skenes struggled on opening day against the New York Mets. He got only two outs in the game, giving up five runs on four hits and a walk, striking out one batter.

Abbott will face the following lineup:

Jake Mangum RF

Nick Gonzales 2B

Bryan Reynolds LF

Marcel Ozuna DH

Oneil Cruz CF

Nick Yorke 3B

Jared Triolo SS

Spencer Horwitz 1B

Henry Davis C

Skenes will be challenged by:

TJ Friedl CF

Matt McLain 2B

Elly De La Cruz SS

Sal Stewart 1B

Nick Lowe DH

Spencer Steer LF

Will Benson RF

Tyler Stephenson C

Ke'Bryan Hayes 3B

Lowe will be making his first start of the season after making the team as a non-roster invitee.

"We are asking him to pinch hit," Terry Francona said. "If we're going to do that it would be helpful to get him a few at bats."

Oneil Cruz is coming of a 2-for-3 game with two home runs.

Sal Stewart and Elly De La Cruz both hit their second home run last night. Stewart has was just 1-for-4 last night but had the home run. He has been on base at least twice in all five games so far. He has walked six times and struck out three. Stewart the reigning National League Player of the Week is slashing a phenominal .563/.682/1.125 bringing his on-base-plus slugging to 1.807.