The Cincinnati Reds welcome the Milwaukee Brewers to Great American Ball Park on Saturday, September 5, 2026, for a 6:40 PM ET first pitch. Andrew Abbott gets the ball for Cincinnati against Milwaukee's Dustin May in what shapes up as a genuine pitching duel late in the regular season. With September underway, every game carries added weight in the standings, and the Reds will be leaning on their home crowd to help Abbott deliver.

Probable Pitchers: Abbott vs. May

Andrew Abbott draws the start for the Reds. The left-hander has been one of the more intriguing arms in Cincinnati's rotation, relying on a sharp breaking ball to keep hitters off balance. He will need to be at his best against a Milwaukee lineup that knows how to grind at-bats and make starters work deep into counts.

On the other side, Dustin May brings a big arm to the Queen City. The right-hander is known for his elite velocity and heavy sinker, which can generate quick ground ball outs and keep offenses in check. May has experience in high-leverage situations, and he will look to neutralize what has been a varied and deep Reds lineup.

Cincinnati Reds Starting Lineup

• Héctor Rodríguez — RF
• Elly De La Cruz — SS
• Sal Stewart — 1B
• JJ Bleday — LF
• Tyler Stephenson — DH
• Eugenio Suárez — 3B
• Jose Trevino — C
• Carlos Jorge — CF
• Matt McLain — 2B

Keys to Watch

Elly De La Cruz Sets the Tone

Batting second, De La Cruz is the engine of this offense. When he gets on base and uses his elite speed, he creates chaos for opposing pitchers and opens up the middle of the order. If he can get into scoring position early, it puts immediate pressure on May and the Milwaukee defense.

Abbott's Command Against a Patient Lineup

The Brewers are not a team that chases bad pitches. Abbott will need to throw his breaking ball for strikes and avoid falling behind in counts. If he commands the zone effectively, he has the stuff to keep Milwaukee's lineup quiet. If he struggles with his release point, the walks can pile up in a hurry.

Middle of the Order Needs to Produce

Sal Stewart, JJ Bleday, and Tyler Stephenson batting third through fifth gives Cincinnati a legitimate run-producing core. May's sinker will generate weak contact if those hitters are not disciplined, so staying through the ball and driving pitches into the gaps will be the key task for the heart of this lineup.

Suárez and Experience Late

Eugenio Suárez batting sixth gives the Reds a veteran presence who has seen everything. His ability to come through in two-strike counts and deliver extra-base hits keeps opposing pitchers honest even in the bottom half of the order.

Prediction

This one figures to be a low-scoring, tightly contested game determined by which starting pitcher sustains his command longer. Abbott at home, with the Great American Ball Park crowd behind him, gets the slight edge. Cincinnati wins this one 3-2 in a game that is not decided until the final few outs. Catch all the action on Reds.TV or on WLW 700 AM.