Cincinnati Reds probable pitchers & starting lineup vs. St. Louis Cardinals, June 10

Probable starting pitchers

The Cincinnati Reds have lost two straight, but will be looking to get back into the win column during Game 2 of a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Reds will run out rookie hurler Andrew Abbott for his second major league start today. The southpaw had quite the impressive debut, going six scoreless innings and allowing just one hit. Manager David Bell will be looking for Abbott to give him a similar effort on Saturday afternoon.

Abbott will be opposed by Miles Mikolas. The St. Louis right-hander is 4-2 on the season, but allowed 10 hits during his previous outing against the Pittsburgh Pirates. But the last time Mikolas faced this Reds team, he wen't seven innings, allowed only five hits, and no runs crossed the plate.

Cincinnati Reds starting lineup

The bad news is that Jake Fraley was placed on the 10-day IL with a wrist injury. But the good news is that TJ Friedl is back and hitting atop the Cincinnati Reds lineup. Matt McLain will be at shortstop and followed in the batting order by second baseman Jonathan India. Elly De La Cruz is at the hot corner and batting cleanup.

Spencer is at first base and batting fifth in today's game. He'll be followed by desiganted hitter Tyler Stephenson, right fielder Will Benson, and left fielder Stuart Fairchild. Luke Maile gets the start behind the plate and will be hanging the signs for Andrew Abbott.

Which Cincinnati Reds player needs to bounce back in today's game?

Elly De La Cruz had a phenomenal series debut during his first three games in the big leagues. But outside of an infield hit, De La Cruz was rather quiet at the dish during the Cincinnati Reds series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday.

De La Cruz was a bit overly aggressive at the plate last night and struck out three times. But the 21-year-old seems like a fast learner. Look for a nice bounce-back game from Elly De La Cruz tonight.

Which Cincinnati Reds player will be the X-factor in today's game?

It's hard not consider Elly De La Cruz an X-factor every game the Cincinnati Reds play, but today let's look at another rookie. Andrew Abbott will toe the rubber for the second time in the majors this afternoon after a very impressive MLB debut.

Abbott will take his show on the road, looking for that same level of dominance that Reds fans saw during this debut last Monday. Joel Kuhnel was the only reliever in yesterday's game, but getting seven innings out of Abbott this afternoon would be much appreciated.