Reds call on Abbott to blunt red-hot Brewers (ESPN, 8:10 p.m. ET)
This browser does not support the video element.
It’s a battle of National League Central clubs and a clash of left-handed starters on Wednesday night in Milwaukee.
The Brewers and Reds are set to continue their four-game series at American Family Field at 8:10 p.m. ET on Wednesday. The game will air exclusively on ESPN, which can be watched via the ESPN app.
Milwaukee comes into the ballgame red hot, winning seven of its past nine games -- including five straight victories against the Reds. The Brewers picked up a three-game sweep in Cincinnati from June 22-24, and they’ve won the first two games of this four-game series at home. Joey Ortiz hit the go-ahead homer for the Brew Crew in Monday’s 5-3 win, while a four-run fourth inning powered Milwaukee to a 7-2 win on Tuesday.
This browser does not support the video element.
The Brewers enter Wednesday’s clash at 52-31, leading the Cubs by 5 1/2 games in the NL Central and trailing only the Dodgers (56-30) for the best record in MLB. The Reds, meanwhile, are in fifth place in the division with a 39-45 record.
Cincinnati will send left-hander Andrew Abbott (5-4, 3.90 ERA) to the mound on Wednesday. Abbott was an All-Star in 2025 and finished eighth in NL Cy Young voting with a 2.87 ERA, and he has a 3.74 ERA in eight career starts against the Brewers. Four Milwaukee hitters have homered off Abbott in his career, including Jackson Chourio, who is 3-for-7 with two dingers against the lefty.
This browser does not support the video element.
Abbott will be opposed by southpaw Shane Drohan, who made his Major League debut in relief in April and moved into the Brewers’ rotation on June 1. In five starts, Drohan has a 3.65 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings. His previous start came against the Reds on June 24 at Great American Ball Park, in which Drohan tossed 4 1/3 scoreless innings with five K’s.
This browser does not support the video element.
These two clubs were on opposite trajectories all June, with the Brewers finishing the month at 17-10 (.630) and the Reds at 9-17 (.346). But as July begins, anything can happen, especially when two division rivals face off.