The Cincinnati Reds are closing out a rough run against National League West opponents by turning the page to one last NL Central test. After seven tries against the Dodgers produced only one win and Thursday’s 8-2 loss gave Los Angeles its second series win over Cincinnati, the Reds now get the Chicago Cubs for three games at Great American Ball Park.
Chicago arrives as the current leader in the National League Wild Card race, which gives this weekend a different kind of edge. For the Reds, the question is simple: can they spoil anything before the season winds down?
Friday’s opener has one of the Reds’ most electric arms on the mound. Chase Burns, the 2026 All-Star, is set to face Cubs right-hander Clay Holmes. Burns is 15-3 with a 2.80 ERA, and even with his last two outings being limited, he remains one of the team’s biggest bright spots in a difficult season.
Saturday brings a more frustrating matchup for Cincinnati. Nick Lodolo is scheduled to start against Matthew Boyd.
Lodolo’s year has been hampered by blister problems, and the results have not matched what the Reds need from him. He is 0-3 over his last five starts, and while his last two outings against the Dodgers weren’t disasters, the season overall has been a struggle.
The finale on Sunday is listed with Rhett Lowder for Cincinnati. The Cubs have not announced their starter yet.
Lowder has gone 2-3 in his last five starts, though his last three have all ended in losses. For the Reds, it’s at least a chance for him to build some confidence heading into next season, especially with the assumption that he won’t be locked into one of the starting spots in 2027.
In Other News...
Reds Just Made A Lineup Decision Fans Didn't See Coming
The Reds shuffled their roster in a way that changes both the dugout mix and the defensive options available to Terry Francona. Cincinnati optioned outfielder TJ Friedl and right-hander Julian Aguiar to Triple-A Louisville, then brought back right-hander Zach McCambley while also adding infielder and outfielder Oswaldo Cabrera after claiming him off waivers from the Yankees.
Francona sounded encouraged by Cabreras versatility, which could give Cincinnati another piece to move around as it sorts out the lineup and bench. The more interesting question is how quickly Cabrera gets folded into a meaningful role, because the Reds did not just make room for a fresh face, they signaled that they are willing to keep adjusting the roster in search of the right fit. [Read more 🡒]
Joey Votto Just Gave Reds Fans A Bigger Offseason Debate
The Reds offense has become a familiar contradiction this season: plenty of home runs and walks, but also too many empty trips, a league-high strikeout rate, and team ranks that sit low in runs scored and batting average. That imbalance has left Cincinnati searching for a cleaner way to build innings, and it has also reopened an old baseball debate about what matters most when putting together a lineup.
Joey Votto added fuel to it by making clear that he still views batting average as an important measure and believes the Reds should lean more toward contact hitting. For a club already trying to solve its offensive identity, that kind of advice lands in the middle of a bigger offseason conversation, one that could shape how the front office thinks about adding hitters who put the ball in play rather than simply waiting for the next big swing. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Keep Falling Short For One Reason Fans Cant Ignore
Defense has been the Reds quiet problem for a while now, and the numbers have tracked the unease. Cincinnatis Defensive Runs Saved under David Bell was a major issue in 2023 and 2024, then ticked up to slightly above average in 2025 after Terry Francona took over, which at least suggested some progress. For a team trying to build consistency, that kind of swing offered a little hope that the defensive floor had finally been raised.
Instead, 2026 has brought the concern roaring back. The Reds are sitting with the worst DRS in Major League Baseball, a brutal marker for a club that has already spent multiple seasons trying to climb out of this hole. Even with the improvement last year, the broader trend keeps pointing to the same uncomfortable reality: Cincinnati still has a defensive identity problem, and until that changes, every other part of the roster has a tougher path to carrying the team. [Read more 🡒]