Reds vs Padres Preview: Abbott Aims to Spark Rally

Andrew Abbott is one of the hottest young pitchers in baseball. This is his first year as an All-Star, and he wants to prove he belongs. Abbott takes the mound for Cincinnati at Petco Park against San Diego's Walker Buehler. The Reds are struggling right now, having lost their last four games. Cincinnati sits at 31-33 on the season. Abbott needs to pitch big and keep his team in the game. A strong performance here could silence the doubters and show why the Reds believe in him moving forward. This is his chance to shine on a big stage.

The Reds have a serious problem right now. Star shortstop Elly De La Cruz got hurt and won't be back for two to four weeks. He strained his right hamstring and is getting an MRI on Friday. Without De La Cruz, Cincinnati's lineup loses one of its biggest bats. The team will use Matt McLain, Edwin Arroyo, and Noelvi Marte to fill the gap at shortstop. The Reds are already stumbling at 31-33 and dropping games left and right. Losing De La Cruz makes it even tougher to climb back into the race. Cincinnati needs other players to step up big while their superstar recovers.

San Diego is having a rough stretch too. The Padres just dropped a game and sit at 33-31 on the season. They've only won two of their last ten games. San Diego's pitching staff has solid veterans like Michael King and Joe Musgrove holding things together. The bullpen has Mason Miller, one of baseball's best closers, ready to lock things down. But the Padres are missing some important players due to injuries. Walker Buehler takes the ball for San Diego against Cincinnati's Abbott. The Padres need this win to stop their slide and stay close in a tough division. Every game matters when you're fighting for playoff position.