Curious facet of Reds schedule affords Andrew Abbott opportunity to make up ground

What appeared to be a two-horse race for the final spot in the Cincinnati Reds Opening Day rotation, could now see three pitchers vying for a chance to break camp with the big-league ball club.

The quartet of Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Nick Martinez, and Brady Singer are set to open the 2025 season on the Opening Day roster; no real surprises there. But with both Rhett Lowder and Andrew Abbott sidelined during the first few weeks of spring training, it appeared that the final spot in the Reds rotation would be a competition between Graham Ashcraft and Carson Spiers.

But it was revealed earlier this week that Abbott will get his first taste of Cactus League action on Wednesday. The lefty will take the hill against the Texas Rangers and attempt to make up some ground in his pursuit of a spot on the Reds Opening Day roster. But will Abbott have enough time to build up his pitch count?

Reds schedule affords Andrew Abbott opportunity to make up ground

That's an interesting question, and while it seems unlikely that Abbott will be fully prepared to pitch for his first turn through the rotation, he may not need to be ready that soon. Opening Day in Cincinnati is on Thursday, March 27 and Greene will be taking the hill.

But the Reds have an off-day on Friday, March 28, meaning that Cincinnati may choose to keep their ace on his regular four-days rest and send him back out to the mound on Tuesday, April 1 to battle the Rangers. That would, in effect, offer Abbott (or whoever claims the final rotation spot) an extra day of rest. That may not sound like much, but every little bit helps.

If Abbott is able to stay "on schedule" throughout the remainder of spring training, the southpaw could conceivably make three Cactus League starts and perhaps pitch in a simulated game before the start of the season. Would four to five innings from Abbott be enough for Terry Francona to add the left-hander to the Reds Opening Day roster? That remains to be seen.

Let's not put the cart before the horse just yet. Before projecting Abbott to join Greene, Lodolo, Martinez, and Singer in the Reds starting rotation, he has to prove that he's healthy. If Abbott's shoulder responds well and he's able to remain on schedule, the opportunity for him to be part of the Reds Opening Day roster is in play. If not, that honor will fall to either Ashcraft or Spiers.

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