CHICAGO – If Andrew Abbott could make all his starts against the Chicago Cubs this year, the Cincinnati Reds might be in first place.
For now, the Reds’ left-hander might have to settle for National League Pitcher of the Month honors in May and just maybe the first All-Star selection of his career.
“I don’t really concern myself with any of that stuff. We don’t control it anyway,” said Abbott, who twirled another seven scoreless innings Friday, May 30 as the Reds opened a three-game series at Wrigley Field with a 6-2 victory over the Cubs.
“I’m just going out and trying to do what I can do for the team: pitch as long as I can, help us win on that day,” he said. “That’s all I’m focusing on.”
Friday marked the second strong outing in as many starts against the MLB-leading Cubs lineup in the past week for Abbott (5-0), who lowered his season ERA to 1.51 – and ERA for May to an eye-popping 0.55 in six starts.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
The Reds have won all five of Abbott’s career starts against the Cubs. He has a 2.30 ERA against them across 27 1/3 innings.
“I thought the seven innings we got (were key),” manager Terry Francona said. “Wind’s blowing out. He used his changeup. He used his cutter. He elevated his fastball. Really kept them off the barrel really well.”
Reds injuries Austin Hays Jake Fraley Cincinnati Reds OF Austin Hays (bruised foot) lands on injured list for third time
Reds trade Alexis Diaz Dodgers Can Cincinnati Reds make Alexis Díaz trade windfall pay off at trade deadline?
Underscoring how effective Abbott was against a team that averages six runs a game, the Cubs scored two quick runs in the eighth off reliever Tony Santillan as soon as Abbott exited the game.
The difference between needing six outs and nine outs from the bullpen?
“Well, as you saw, if (we) had to cover nine, we might still be playing,” Francona said.
Abbott struck out eight and finished his 93-pitch start by retiring the final 15 batters he faced after allowing his only hit of the afternoon, a Justin Turner single to left.
Eventually, the Reds bullpen survived the post-Abbott, late-inning nightmare that befell the group in the series a week earlier at Great American Ball Park – when the Cubs outscored the Reds 21-0 after the sixth inning in those three games. That included the Reds blowing leads of four and five runs in their two losses.
Make it 23-0 after the hard-hitting eighth off Santillan.
Abbott’s All-Star-worthy performance and home runs by TJ Friedl, Tyler Stephenson and Jake Fraley provided enough margin this time.
In fact, the way leadoff man Friedl has heated up to close the month – including the first-inning shot to set the tone Friday – he might be putting himself in position for his own first-time All-Star bid.
“He’s been incredibly consistent all year,” Francona said. “He sees pitches, which is always good out of your leadoff hitter. And one really nice thing is that he has really good at-bats against lefties, so you don’t have to change a batting order.”
Friedl, who added a single in the third then later walked twice and stole a base, will take a streak of seven straight multi-hit games into Saturday – with nine multi-hit performances in 10 games overall.
He’s raised his batting average 41 points in 12 days to .306 this season – with a .538 on-base percentage in the last two weeks.
Fan voting for the All-Star starting lineups starts Wednesday.
Which brings us to this week’s …
Cincinnati Reds All-Star Candidate Power Rankings
1. LHP Andrew Abbott – Did we mention Abbott’s MLB-best ERA for May is the Reds’ lowest ERA for a month since John Franco had a 0.30 ERA in August 1985? The only other Reds pitcher with a lower ERA than Abbott (0.55) for a month since that became an official stat in 1912 was Dolf Luque (0.50 in June 1923). His 1.51 ERA this season is the lowest for a Reds lefty in his first nine starts of a season since Dutch Ruether (1.23) in 1920.
2. CF TJ Friedl – In addition to providing plus defense up the middle after missing most of last season with injuries, Friedl is hitting .467 with a .622 slugging percentage and 1.161 OPS since May 18.
3. SS Elly De La Cruz – Last year’s first-time All-Star and fan favorite doubled and scored in Friday’s first inning and is on pace for 31 home runs, 112 RBIs and 47 stolen bases in his second full season in the majors.
4. RHP Hunter Greene – Another first-time All-Star last year, Greene came back quickly from a Grade 1 groin strain and is 4-3 with a 2.63 ERA as he prepares for his 11th start of the season this week against the Milwaukee Brewers.
5. RHP Emilio Pagán
– The veteran right-hander shoehorned into the closer role when Alexis Díaz pitched his way out of Cincinnati earned his 14th save in 16 chances Friday after entering with two on and one out in the ninth. He leads the league in games finished. His career high in saves is 20 in 2019 for the Rays.
