Andrew Abbott DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

The Cincinnati Reds have told left-hander Andrew Abbott (shoulder) that he will begin the regular season on the injured list. As a result, right-hander Carson Spiers will serve as the team's fifth starter early on. Abbott's 2024 season came to an early end due to a left-shoulder injury, and he was still dealing with shoulder issues early in spring training, which put him behind the eight ball. The 25-year-old southpaw made his Cactus League debut earlier this week, but he simply ran out of time to get stretched out before Opening Day. If Abbott eventually can put his shoulder issues in the past for good, he should eventually return to their starting rotation in 2025. In the meantime, Spiers will be an option for NL-only fantasy managers after he posted a 5.46 ERA and 1.53 WHIP with 80 K's and 27 walks in 90 2/3 innings over 22 outings (10 starts) for Cincy in 2024.

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott (shoulder) has progressed to throwing his first live batting practice session in spring training, but it remains to be seen if he'll have enough time to get ready for Opening Day on March 27. In addition to Abbott, rookie right-hander Rhett Lowder (elbow) has been delayed this spring. Abbott has been a fixture in Cincy's starting rotation since his big-league debut in June of 2023 until he landed on the injured list for the final six weeks of last season due to a left-shoulder impingement. He has been on a slower buildup program this spring and also missed some time due to the flu. If Abbott isn't ready to go early in the regular season, Graham Ashcraft, who has looked good in his two spring starts, could begin the year in the rotation for the Reds. In addition to concerns about Abbott's shoulder, his lack of strikeout upside doesn't make him all that attractive in shallow-mixed fantasy leagues.

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Andrew Abbott (shoulder) threw a successful side session on Wednesday. Abbott has been on a slower progression throughout camp due to a shoulder strain that cut his 2024 season short. In addition, the left-handed pitcher battled an illness last week, which slightly slowed down his recovery process. The team has still not provided a date when Abbott will progress to facing live hitters. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progression but should not expect him to face hitters until he is able to throw several successful bullpen sessions. When healthy, the 25-year-old is expected to compete for a spot in the starting rotation. Last season, Abbott held a 3.72 ERA with a 1.30 WHIP across 138 frames. However, if he continues to face restrictions, Graham Ashcraft could become the favorite to land the final rotation spot.