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Today · 7:15 PM ETLineup pendingNL Central / NL East

Cincinnati Reds   vs   Atlanta Braves Preview

September 23, 2026

Starting pitchers, lineup status, recent form and weather at Truist Park.

7:15 PM ET · Truist ParkStats availableLineups not confirmed
T-Score29
Cincinnati Reds
72–84 · 5th NL Central · T-Score 29
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First pitch 7:15 PM ET
Atlanta Braves
92–64 · 1st NL East · T-Score 60
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T-Score60
First pitch 7:15 PM ET

Matchup at a glance

PitcherStat calculation
CategoryComparisonWhy
Starting pitcherBravesSale leads Abbott in P-Score (84 vs 44), WHIP and K/9.
Offense vs handRedsCincinnati has produced the stronger offense against left-handed pitching.
Team strengthBravesAtlanta leads 60–29 in T-Score.
WeatherModerate impactA 11 mph wind could modestly increase carry on fly balls.

Starting pitchers

CIN
Andrew Abbott LHP
Andrew Abbott
Cincinnati Reds
2026 season (MLB rank among qualified starters)
ERA
4.70
146th
WHIP
1.47
183rd
K/9
7.08
164th
BB/9
4.25
186th
P-Score44i
FIP
4.93
HR/9
1.36
145th
OPS/R
0.758
IP
159.0
2026 ERA splits
Home ERA4.64
Road ERA4.91
Last 5 starts
ATL
Chris Sale LHP
Chris Sale
Atlanta Braves
2026 season (MLB rank among qualified starters)
ERA
2.18
6th
WHIP
0.99
12th
K/9
10.89
12th
BB/9
1.78
8th
P-Score84i
FIP
2.29
HR/9
0.52
7th
OPS/R
0.566
IP
157.0
2026 ERA splits
Home ERA1.66
Road ERA2.74
Last 5 starts
How the starters differ
·Sale strikes out 3.8 more batters per nine innings.
·Sale owns the lower FIP, 2.29 to 4.93.
·Sale allows fewer baserunners, with a 0.99 WHIP compared with 1.47.
·Sale allows the lower home-run rate: 0.52 vs 1.36 per nine.
Advanced starter metricsERA−, FIP, WAR, career vs opponent
MetricAbbottSaleNote
ERA−11252Park- and league-adjusted; 100 is average.
FIP4.932.29
WAR1.35.7Season value.

How the lineups match the starters' pitch mix

Pitch data coverage: partial. Usage and velocity only.

Abbott arsenal
PitchUsageVelo
Four-seam45%92.2
Sweeper20%81.4
Changeup19%85.6
Curveball13%79.7
Cutter3%88.8
Sale arsenal
PitchUsageVelo
Four-seam41%96.1
Slider40%79.7
Changeup10%88.5
Sinker9%95.6

Team OPS vs opposing starter's hand

Reds vs LHP (Chris Sale)
9th
in MLB
0.730OPS
.600.700.800.9001.000
Braves vs LHP (Andrew Abbott)
20th
in MLB
0.698OPS
.600.700.800.9001.000

Lineups

Lineup pendingOrder from the stored snapshot; treat as unofficial until the card is filed.Full lineup page
Lineups not announced

Neither club has posted a batting order. Handedness composition, H-Score leaders and batter-vs-pitcher samples appear here as soon as the first order is filed — typically two to three hours before first pitch.

Team comparison

ResultsCINCIN·ATLATL
+10029th
Run differential
+2938th
72–84 Record92–64
Last 10 games
Cincinnati Reds (0–0)
Atlanta Braves (0–0)
2026 head-to-head
Season Series
0—0
0 Games Played

Frequently asked

Who is starting for the Reds?+
Andrew Abbott is listed as the starter.
Who is starting for the Braves?+
Chris Sale is listed as the starter.
What time does the game start?+
7:15 PM ET at Truist Park.
Where is the game being played?+
Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves.
Are the lineups confirmed?+
Not yet. Orders appear here when they are posted.
How do the starters compare on P-Score?+
Andrew Abbott is at 44; Chris Sale is at 84. P-Score is PitcherStat's 0–100 season index for qualified starters.