Cincinnati Reds Series Preview: Chicago White Sox

The Reds travel to the south side of Chicago for a weekend set with the White Sox.

Austin Elmore | Apr 12, 2024

Apr 1, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Cincinnati Reds outfielder Spencer Steer (7) / Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports

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Cincinnati Reds

CINCINNATI — After a second consecutive series loss at home, the Cincinnati Reds are heading to Chicago for their second road trip of the season. Starting Friday night, the Reds will be on the south side of Chicago to take on the White Sox over the weekend before heading out west for three more games against the Seattle Mariners.

The Reds enter the trip at 6-6, losing two straight to the Milwaukee Brewers before the fourth game of the series was rained out and postponed until August.

Today’s #Reds-Brewers game has been postponed and will be made up as the first game of a split doubleheader Friday, August 30, 2024.

For more information ➡️ https://t.co/qLFz43s3WP pic.twitter.com/3UxvGppecG
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) April 11, 2024

The White Sox enter the weekend at 2-10 and in last place in the AL Central. Chicago has been swept twice already this season, a three-game season-opening sweep to Detroit, and a four-game set in Kansas City last week.

Without further ado, let’s get into the series preview:

GAME 1

WHERE: Guaranteed Rate Field

WHEN: Friday, April 12, 7:40 PM

STARTING PITCHERS: Andrew Abbott (CIN), Chris Flexen (CWS)

The Reds are keeping their normal rotation, which means Andrew Abbott gets the start in game one, and Nick Martinez, who was supposed to start Thursday against Milwaukee, does not.

This will be the third start of the year for Abbott, who has a 3.48 ERA and eight strikeouts in 10.1 innings pitched this year. Abbott allowed two earned runs in each of his first two starts of the year.

He's looked a lot like the guy who shined for the Reds last year, but he hasn’t gone deep enough into games, failing to pitch more than 5.1 innings in a game this year.

Chris Flexen, a right-hander, enters the game with a 5.91 ERA over two starts for the White Sox. His starts came against Kansas City, in which he gave up three runs on six hits over the course of 6.1 innings, and Atlanta, where he lasted just 4.1 innings and gave up four runs on six hits.

GAME 2

WHERE: Guaranteed Rate Field

WHEN: Saturday, April 13, 2:10 PM

STARTING PITCHERS: Nick Lodolo (CIN), Garrett Crochet (CWS)

Nick Lodolo makes his appearance since May 6 of last year when he, ironically, faced the Chicago White Sox. Lodolo got roughed up in more ways than one that game, surrendering three runs on six hits in just 3 2/3 innings. He suffered a season-ending injury when he suffered a stress fracture in his left tibia. Lodolo began the year on a rehab assignment in Louisville, where he started two games, pitched seven innings, and allowed five earned runs.

While his spring and rehab statistics are less than stellar, Lodolo has remained on track and is fully healthy and good to go. The Reds are high on him, and never considered moving him to the bullpen.

He’ll be opposed by Chicago lefty Garrett Crochet, who has had a terrific start to 2024. He has started three games and has an ERA of just 2.00 in 18 innings of work. Crochet has struck out 18 batters in those 21 innings and allowed just four earned runs.

With the Reds well-documented struggles against left handed pitching, this will be a tough matchup for Cincinnati.

GAME 3

WHERE: Guaranteed Rate Field

WHEN: Sunday, April 14, 2:10 PM

STARTING PITCHERS: Graham Ashcraft (CIN), Mike Soroka (CWS)

The final game of the series sees Graham Ashcraft take the ball for Cincinnati. Ashcraft had a dominant start to his last outing against Milwaukee, but after waiting 23 minutes in the dugout while the Reds offense exploded, he came back out and was knocked around.

Ashcraft ended up allowing five earned runs on nine Brewers hits, and struck out six batters. He enters Sunday’s game with a 5.40 ERA in 11.2 innings pitched.

Mike Soroka will start for the White Sox, the veteran righty is a former first round pick of the Atlanta Braves, where he spent the first four seasons of his MLB career. In 2024, Soroka is has a 6.14 ERA in three starts for Chicago, and has struck out just 6 batters in 14.2 innings of work. In his last start against Cleveland, he left the game in the fourth inning after surrendering four runs, a home run, and walking three batters.

WHAT ELSE?

If you thought the Reds injuries were bad, you should see the White Sox. Arguably the two best players on the team, outfielder Luis Robert Jr. and third basemen Yoan Moncada, are on the shelf for the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, designated hitter Eloy Jimenez is dealing with a thigh injury. There’s a chance he returns to the lineup this weekend against the Reds.

Cincinnati got good news this week when David Bell said they hope to have Matt McLain back by August, and that outfielder TJ Friedl continues to progress nicely from his wrist injury.

Besides Spencer Steer, Elly De La Cruz is the hottest hitter on the team. After hitting two homers on Monday against the Brewers, De La Cruz went deep again against Milwaukee on Wednesday, hitting an opposite field shot. He also singled up the middle and has been on base in every game the Reds have played this season.

After dropping two straight series at home, the Reds will be heavy favorites this weekend against Chicago, and will need to take advantage before the schedule gets considerably tougher as the month goes on.

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