The Cincinnati Reds head into their final three games of 2026 with plenty still hanging over the organization, but on the field the assignment is simple: finish the year against the Toronto Blue Jays.
The series closes out a season that saw both clubs reach the postseason a year ago, with Toronto going all the way to the World Series. Now the two teams meet with just three games left on the schedule.
Cincinnati will start the set Friday night with left-hander Nick Lodolo, who is scheduled to make his final appearance of the season. Lodolo enters at 3-6 with a 5.04 ERA, and 2026 was supposed to be the year he got back on track. Instead, blister problems resurfaced and his production never reached the level the Reds needed.
Friday’s opener at Rogers Centre is set for 7:07 p.m. ET.
On Saturday, the Reds will hand the ball to right-hander Rhett Lowder for his last start of the year. Lowder is 6-11 with a 5.79 ERA, and his place in the rotation beyond this season remains unclear. The right-hander has dropped four of his last five starts, so this outing could carry extra weight as he tries to make his case for 2027.
The season wraps up Sunday with Brandon Williamson taking the mound for Cincinnati. Like Lodolo, Williamson’s year has been defined by injuries and what might have been. And like Lowder, his role in next year’s rotation is far from settled.
Williamson comes into the finale off a strong start against the Atlanta Braves, when he worked six innings, allowed three hits and did not give up a run in a win.
First pitch for Sunday’s finale is set for 3:07 p.m. ET.
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