GOODYEAR, Ariz. — If the Reds bring the wood with them to start the season they way they’ve broken it out in spring training, Reds pitchers are going to have a lot more margin for error.
The Reds’ offense has been the story of the Cactus League so far, flashing elite power that has many silencing early-season doubters. Through 17 games, the team has already launched 35 home runs, continuing a torrid pace that recently saw them score 50 runs over a three-game stretch.
And no surprise that it was Matt McLain – the hottest hitter in all of Major League spring training – leading the way again on Wednesday in a 6-3 win against Milwaukee before 5,010 at Goodyear Ballpark. He belted an 0-2 pitch from lefty Robert Gasser over the wall in left in the bottom of the first for his fifth homer of spring. He added two singles for a 3-for-3 day that raised his average to .607 in 10 games. McLain is slashing an unreal .607/.667/1.179 this spring.
Noelvi Marte also had a day to remember. He belted his second homer on a 3-0 pitch in the second to tie the game, 2-2, and Jose Trevino followed with his first of spring to put Abbott and the Reds up, 3-2. Marte also made a running catch in right before crashing into the wall, robbing Sal Frelick of extra bases against Emilio Pagan to open the fifth.
Reds manager Terry Francona has been calling for Marte to work hard on his outfield play and improve his read on fly balls. The skipper also wanted to see Marte finally break through and hit a lefty. Milwaukee started southpaw Robert Gasser and Francona got his wish. Marte homered and went 2-for-3 with three RBIs.
“Good, because, I mean, that was exciting for us,” Francona said afterward. “He got back on the on the real good play in the outfield (on Frelick), and he took some really good swings off lefties. So that was very encouraging.”
Andrew Abbott made his fourth start of the spring and allowed some very loud contact in the first two innings, including a tape measure 403-foot two-run homer to Gary Sanchez on an 87 mph cutter that didn’t cut enough. Abbott was working with Jose Trevino and worked all of his pitches on the afternoon, which was the most important takeaway. He allowed six hits and two runs over his 3 2/3 innings of work, tossing 69 pitches (42 strikes).
“You look at pitch counts, okay, whatever, you take it for what it’s worth. But the ups and downs (are what matter),” Francona said. “So, as they get into (the game) and they come in and sit and then they go back out and that that’s probably more important.”
Abbott was the beneficiary of some terrific defense behind him, including a 3-4-3 double play to end the second and a nice running catch by Marte in the third. Abbott had traffic on the bases in every inning but managed to pitch around it despite the hard contact. In that second inning, the Brewers had their first two runners reach but escaped when he picked off Luis Lara at second base before the 3-4-3 ended the frame.
Abbott is working through a challenging spring as he prepares for his newfound role as Opening Day hurler and top-of-the-rotation starter. Coming off a stellar 2025 season where he posted a 2.87 ERA—the 9th best in the majors—Abbott has struggled with command early in camp. Entering today with a 12.27 ERA across 7.1 innings, his focus remains on refining his high-whiff changeup and a newly-gripped slider designed to take a step forward this year. He mentioned that he was working on both on Wednesday.
