On this day of joking, April 1st, 2024…the Cincinnati Reds will take on the Philadelphia Phillies for the first time in 2024. Sure does seem like we get them early every year now, doesn’t it? Keep reading below to check out some matchups I really like, especially if you’re a bettor! (Though, this certainly is NOT betting advice, just some matchups I really like.)
Andrew Abbott vs Cristopher Sánchez
Andrew Abbott started his MLB career as hot as one could imagine, posting a 1.90 ERA & 3.73 FIP in his first 10 starts with a 19:66 BB:K and the Cincinnati Reds winning 8 of the 10 starts, but struggled really bad into the dog days of summer with fatigue and struggling to stay consistent. In his final 11 starts on the year, he had a 6.42 ERA & was getting hit HARD, opponents had a .388 BABip against him from July 31-September 27th. Andrew really got beat around bad by right handed hitters, something he must improve on in 2024.
Cristopher Sanchez has logged 152.0 IP in his 3 year major league career, and 99.1 of them came in 2023, where he was an absolute strike throwing machine. He was 98th percentile in BB%, which means…he does not walk guys. He’s also a groundball machine, so when he does walk a guy, they usually get erased from the basepaths immediately after. He’s a medium (velocity) throwing LHP, some of which the Reds have shown to have fits with quite frequently. The changeup he tuned up in the offseason will be a problem for these guys wearing Cincinnati across their chest. Note his 97th percentile Chase rate – he sets you up quick & finishes with those polished secondaries. He lives in the bottom quadrant of the strikezone and rarely will miss upstairs unless intentional while ahead in the count trying to generate chase & changing the batter’s eye level. There’s only a few Redlegs I’m confident in tonight…
Who would I bet on having a big game…?
Stuart Fairchild & Spencer Steer will have to carry tonight against Sanchez. Both guys will go down and get a soft fastball. I look for Steer to have 2+ hits today, Fairchild with 1. Luke Maile should fare well with Sanchez on the mound as well.
