After a day off on Monday, the Cincinnati Reds opened a crucial six-game homestand with their backs against the proverbial wall in this 2026 season. They stood at 41-48 and in last place in the National League’s Central division, and were about to welcome behemoths to town in the form of the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs.
If ever there were a time to show up for this season, it was tonight. Instead, the Reds got absolutely waxed by a Phillies club that’s playing some of the best ball in the sport right now.
Phillies starter struck out 14 in his time on the mound, the Phils staff struck out an astonishing 18 Reds on the evening, and Kyle Schwarber – whom the Reds ‘tried’ to sign over the winter to no avail – socked a back-breaking 2-run homer off Andrew Abbott that sealed a 4-1 loss for Cincinnati in a game they desperately needed to win.
Abbott, to his credit, was hardly the problem on the night. He yielded 3 ER in 6.0 IP, the Schwarbomb the only true mistake he made. He fanned 8 against nary a walk and allowed just 5 H in his effort, and he once again showed he’s a rock within a rotation that’s otherwise been shaky (non Chase Burns edition) all season long.
Cincinnati’s offense, though, simply had no fight back.