Andrew Abbott becoming Reds Opening Day starter confirms what fans feared

Congratulations are in order for Cincinnati Reds left-handed pitcher Andrew Abbott. The southpaw has been named the Reds Opening Day starter for the 2026 season and will take the mound on Thursday, March 26 against the Boston Red Sox.

The Reds made the announcement on Sunday afternoon, and in doing so, all but confirmed that Hunter Greene will begin the 2026 season on the injured list. The right-hander was shutdown from throwing last week after experiencing discomfort in his right elbow. Greene visited two doctors this past week, and the Reds' brass expects to know the full results later this week.

Abbott getting the call for Opening Day will mark the 11th straight season in which a different Reds pitcher has been on the mound for the first game of the season. The last time a Cincinnati pitcher made back-to-back Opening Day starts was in 2015 when Johnny Cueto began the season for the fourth year in a row.

Andrew Abbott named Reds Opening Day starter

Abbott is coming off an All-Star campaign in 2025. The left-hander was 10-7 with a 2.87 ERA over 29 starts last season. He was limited to begin the season, but still covered over 165 innings and struck out 149 batters. Abbott was supposed to be the Reds starter for Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Series last October, but Cincinnati fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers in just two games.

Unlike Greene, and fellow fireballer Chase Burns, Abbott pitches to soft contact. He ranked among the 74th percentile or higher in chase rate, average exit velocity, hard-hit rate, and walk rate. Abbott's fastball averages less 93 mph on the radar, but he pairs pinpoint location with a five-pitch mix in order to baffle the opposition.

Abbott will likely be followed in the rotation by Nick Lodolo and Brady Singer to open the weekend at Great American Ball Park. After reassigning Julian Aguiar and Jose Franco to Minor League camp late last week, and with Greene all but confirmed to open the year on the IL, Cincinnati's coaching staff has expanded the competition for the last spot in the Reds rotation from just one to two.

Burns, Brandon Williamson, and Rhett Lowder are the leading contenders, though Chase Petty is still in Major League camp too. Most casual observers believe Lowder has a leg up on the competition, meaning that three pitchers are essentially battling for the final spot in the rotation.