Cincinnati Reds at Chicago White Sox

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
CIN	3	0	1	4	0	1	0	0	0	9	8	0
CWS	1	3	0	0	1	0	0	2	1	8	12	1

Andrew Abbott (6-7, 4.13 ERA) got the ball for Cincinnati against Davis Martin (9-6, 4.32) at 12:10 PM CT. Abbott came in fresh off a win over the Athletics in which he worked 6.2 innings and struck out 4. Martin's last time out was the stranger line of the two — pulled after just 1 inning against Cleveland, a short, unresolved outing for a guy who'd already banked 9 wins on the year.

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FINAL

Spread

ML

Total

Reds(57-62)

LWLLL

9

+1.5-167+125o8.5+111

White Sox(62-57)

WLWWL

8

-1.5+163-127u8.5-111

Best BetWhite Sox -130

Postgame

Chicago lost outright, 8-9, despite answering with a 2-run inning and pulling within 1 late. The sharp money and the recent form both pointed to a White Sox win, and Martin actually settled in fine after that ugly last outing — the problem was a Reds lineup that built too big a cushion to fully erase.

Pregame

White Sox at home is the pick, but it leans more on Cincinnati's roster problems than on Martin's recent stuff. The Reds are down two rotation arms with Hunter Greene needing season-ending elbow surgery, while Chicago at least has bodies to throw out there. Sharp money has actually piled onto the Reds side here, so this isn't unanimous, but the entry price at -130 still reflected the deeper roster.

Both clubs are running thin in spots. Chicago is without both of its primary catchers, Kyle Teel and Joey Bart, leaning on depth behind the plate. Cincinnati's rotation has taken an even bigger hit — Hunter Greene is done for the year after a second Tommy John surgery, and Brandon Williamson is still working his way back from shoulder surgery in the minors. None of that stopped the sportsbooks from installing the White Sox as home favorites.

Andrew Abbott

(6-8)·4.07 ERA

Aug 6 vs Athletics

W

6.2IP

3ER

4K

2BB

88P

08/13 Lineup

Davis Martin

(9-6)·4.32 ERA

Aug 9 vs Guardians

ND

1.0IP

1ER

1K

1BB

23P

08/13 Lineup

The series itself had been a coin flip. Chicago and Cincinnati had split the first two games, so the finale carried real weight for a White Sox club still hanging around the edges of a crowded race.

Cincinnati Reds

(57-62)

Aug 12L@ White Sox0-5

Aug 11W@ White Sox5-4

Aug 9L@ Nationals1-7

Aug 8L@ Nationals2-8

Aug 7L@ Nationals3-5

Chicago White Sox

(62-57)

Aug 12Wvs Reds5-0

Aug 11Lvs Reds4-5

Aug 9Wvs Guardians5-3

Aug 8Wvs Guardians6-3

Aug 7Lvs Guardians2-8

Cincinnati came in having dropped 3 straight to Washington before salvaging a split here, so stealing the finale doubles as a bit of momentum. Chicago, which had taken 2 of 3 from Cleveland and won its last game before Thursday, turned this one into a track meet early — a 4-run inning put real distance on the board before the White Sox started clawing back, cutting the deficit with a 2-run answer and pulling within 1 in the ninth.

It wasn't enough. The Reds' bullpen made just enough pitches to shut the door and salvage the rubber match, leaving Chicago to stew on a game that got away early and nearly got stolen back late.

Cincinnati Reds

(6)

• 10-Day-ILSpencer Steer (1B) — Steer (wrist) is scheduled to have a splint removed from his right wrist Monday, MLB.com reports.08/10
• 15-Day-ILTony Santillan (RP) — Santillan (oblique) was cleared Friday to begin an expedited recovery program, MLB.com reports.08/01
• 60-Day-ILHunter Greene (SP) — Greene (elbow) will be out for 12-to-18 months after undergoing his second Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.08/13
• 60-Day-ILBrandon Williamson (SP) — Williamson (shoulder) allowed two hits and one walk while striking out two over two innings Tuesday in a rehab start for Triple-A Louisville.08/13
• 60-Day-ILBlake Dunn (CF) — The Reds transferred Dunn (elbow) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Thursday.08/06
• 60-Day-ILGraham Ashcraft (RP) — Ashcraft (elbow) is on a throwing program, which will have him throw from 105 feet beginning July 20 at the Reds' training facility in Arizona, MLB.com reports.07/18

Chicago White Sox

(10)

• 10-Day-ILKyle Teel (C) — White Sox manager Will Venable said Thursday that Teel's (ankle) current progress should have him ready to begin a rehab assignment before the end of August, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.08/13
• 10-Day-ILJoey Bart (C) — White Sox general manager Chris Getz said Friday that Bart is expected to be sidelined for "over a month" due to a left hand fracture, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.08/07
• 15-Day-ILChris Murphy (RP) — Murphy will serve as the White Sox's opener for Sunday's game against the Guardians, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.08/07
• 60-Day-ILDrew Thorpe (SP) — Thorpe (elbow) struck out six and allowed one earned run on three hits and no walks across five innings in a rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Charlotte.08/13
• 60-Day-ILJordan Leasure (RP) — Leasure (forearm) has resumed throwing bullpen sessions, MLB.com reports.08/01
• 60-Day-ILPrelander Berroa (RP) — The White Sox announced Saturday that Berroa (elbow) will start throwing again in 1-to-2 weeks, MLB.com reports.07/07
• 60-Day-ILKy Bush (SP) — Bush (elbow) has resumed participating in long toss, MLB.com reports.07/05
• 60-Day-ILMike Vasil (RP) — The White Sox transferred Vasil (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Tuesday.05/08
• 60-Day-ILTanner Murray (LF) — The White Sox transferred Murray (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Monday.05/08
• 60-Day-ILBrooks Baldwin (LF) — The White Sox transferred Baldwin (elbow) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.05/08

Neither club is out of contention, which is exactly why a game like this stings on one side and matters on the other. Both teams play again soon, and both rosters — one missing its top starter for the year, the other missing both catchers — will keep testing their depth in the meantime.