The Reds have spent the first part of September answering the same question in the best possible way: with wins. After knocking off the San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers, Cincinnati has now strung together three straight series victories, dating back to its final set against the Chicago Cubs in August.
That run sets up another major test. On Monday night, the Reds open a three-game series with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and they’re bringing their top starter to the front of the line.
Chase Burns will take the mound in Game 1 at Dodger Stadium. The right-hander is 15-3 with a 2.79 ERA, and while his workload is expected to be limited the rest of the season, Cincinnati is still leaning on him to make an impact in one of baseball’s most recognizable parks.
The Dodgers have not announced their starter for the opener.
Game 2 on Tuesday pairs Nick Lodolo against Tarik Skubal. Lodolo enters at 3-3 with a 5.08 ERA, while Skubal is 8-7 with a 28.6 ERA.
Skubal has worked at least six innings in three of his last five starts. Lodolo, meanwhile, has reached six innings just once in his last five outings.
Lodolo has battled blister issues all season, and the left-hander has been stuck in a frustrating year. A strong showing Tuesday night would go a long way toward giving him a lift.
The series wraps up Wednesday night with Rhett Lowder facing Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Lowder is 6-9 with a 5.43 ERA, and Yamamoto comes in at 12-8 with a 2.67 ERA.
First pitch for the finale is scheduled for 10:10 p.m. ET.
Even before the series begins, there’s still one big question on the Dodgers’ side. Shohei Ohtani is dealing with a knee and bicep injury and is listed as day-to-day. On Sunday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times that he sees Ohtani being in the lineup on Monday night.
If Cincinnati is going to keep this surge rolling, it may have to do it with Ohtani back in the Dodgers’ lineup.
In Other News...
Reds Just Sent Edwin Arroyo A Tough Message Before Dodgers Series
The Reds got a bit healthier in the infield ahead of a big series, activating KeBryan Hayes from the 10-day injured list and sending Edwin Arroyo to Triple-A Louisville. It is the kind of roster move that says as much about performance as it does about health, and for Arroyo it comes after a rough stretch in the majors that never quite found a rhythm.
Arroyo went 1-for-18 with seven strikeouts in six games, a difficult line for any young player trying to hold onto a spot. With fellow rookie Juan Brito having outperformed him and settled into that role, Arroyo now heads back to Louisville with the Reds making a clear short-term choice as they prepare for the Dodgers. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Just Added Outfield Insurance For A Stretch Run Concern
The Reds have added a little more outfield depth for the final weeks of the season, signing veteran Dominic Fletcher to a minor league deal. Fletcher last appeared in the majors in 2025 and comes to Cincinnati after using a release clause to leave Triple-A with the Pittsburgh Pirates, giving the organization another experienced option to stash in the system as it looks to protect itself against late-season roster wear.
It is the kind of move that rarely grabs headlines, but it matters for a club trying to stay nimble with the schedule tightening up. Cincinnati has gotten plenty of impact from Elly De La Cruz, who continues to rate among the Reds best position players and one of the top shortstops in the league, so the front office can afford to keep building the margins around the roster while the stretch run sorts itself out. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Fans Have A New Ownership Rumor To Watch
The recent sale of the Los Angeles Angels has stirred up a familiar kind of chatter around baseball, and now the Reds have been pulled into it. According to MLB insider Bob Nightengale, rival owners believe Cincinnati could be the next club to change hands, a notable bit of speculation for a franchise whose current direction has long been a source of fan frustration under the Castellini family.
For now, there is no official indication the Reds are actually on the market, which is what makes the rumor worth watching rather than treating it as fact. Still, any mention of a possible sale lands with some weight in Cincinnati, where executives have faced plenty of scrutiny and the question of ownership has become part of the larger conversation about where the organization is headed next. [Read more 🡒]