Reds vs Yankees Preview: Young Ace Meets Power Yankees

The Cincinnati Reds roll into Yankee Stadium looking to bounce back after a tough loss. Their young squad sits at 35-38, hungry to climb back into the race. Rhett Lowder takes the mound Friday night as Cincinnati's ace prospect. The 23-year-old right-hander has been absolutely lights-out this season with a 2.05 ERA and 15 strikeouts. He's got a 1.36 WHIP that shows batters can't catch up to his stuff. Lowder will face a Yankees lineup that's on fire right now, winning four straight games and sitting pretty at 45-27. This matchup pits a rising young arm against one of baseball's hottest offenses.

Aaron Judge, the Yankees' slugging right fielder, won't be there Friday. A stress fracture in his rib will keep him sidelined for 4-6 weeks minimum. That's a huge blow to New York's lineup. But don't think the Yankees are weak. Their pitching staff is loaded with talent. Cam Schlittler takes the ball for New York and will look to keep Cincinnati's bats quiet. Max Fried is healing from an elbow issue and threw off a mound recently, getting closer to returning. The Yankees have one of the strongest rotations in the American League. Even without Judge, their arms can shut down any team on any night.

Here's what makes this game must-watch baseball. The Reds' lineup carries young, exciting hitters who want to prove they belong in the big leagues. They're fighting to stay in contention despite injuries to key players like Elly De La Cruz, their star shortstop. The Yankees keep rolling with one of baseball's best records. Their pitching depth is scary-good, and they'll test the Reds' ability to hit quality arms. Cincinnati needs to scratch out runs against a dominant rotation. New York wants to keep its winning streak alive. Both teams have injury challenges, but this is when champions show their grit.