Reds Starter Andrew Abbott Trending Toward Worst Season of His Career

Everybody knows Hunter Greene and Chase Burns. They are two of the most dominant pitchers in MLB when they are on the mound and healthy. However, one of the biggest reasons the Cincinnati Reds have had one of the best starting rotations in the major leagues is their depth, and a major piece of that is left-hander Andrew Abbott.

Since debuting in 2023, Abbott has posted an ERA under four in each of his first three full seasons. He started 21 games in 2023, 25 in 2024 and 29 in 2025, as a true grinder and innings eater for the Reds, who have desperately needed some stability throughout their rotation.

However, Abbott is currently in the middle of the worst three-game stretch of his career and is trending toward having the worst season of his career with just a handful of starts remaining.

Abbott hasn’t gotten to the fifth inning in any of his last three starts, allowing 16 earned runs and 20 hits in nine innings pitched. On Aug. 29, Abbott threw three innings against the Cubs, allowing seven runs on eight hits, striking out just one and walking two.

His next start against the Milwaukee Brewers wasn’t bad, allowing just two runs in four innings. But then came the worst start of his career on Friday night against the Brewers, allowing eight earned runs on nine hits in two innings. He allowed two home runs, pushing his ERA from 4.43 to 4.84 in just one game.

Abbott is fresh off the second-worst month of his career, posting a 6.89 ERA in his six starts in August. The worst month of his career also came this season, as he recorded a 7.22 ERA in April to open the season. He has been the model of consistency throughout his Reds career, but he is dealing with inconsistency and poor play in 2026.

This isn’t a reason for long-term concern with Abbott. He hasn’t been bad all season by any means, as Abbott had a 1.61 ERA in May, allowing one earned run or less in four of his five starts, reaching the sixth inning in each of his five starts. The intangibles are obviously there, and he has proven it, but a future that sees the Reds contending for the NL Central will likely have to include an Andrew Abbott who returns to his usual consistent, reliable form.

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