The Cincinnati Reds welcome the Los Angeles Dodgers to Great American Ball Park on Tuesday, September 15, with first pitch set for 6:40 PM ET. Rhett Lowder gets the ball for Cincinnati opposite Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto in what shapes up as a marquee pitching matchup to close out the regular season stretch run. With the calendar winding toward late September, every game carries weight, and a home date against one of the National League's marquee franchises gives the Reds a chance to make a statement in front of their own crowd.

Starting Pitching: Lowder vs. Yamamoto

Rhett Lowder draws the assignment for Cincinnati. The young right-hander has been part of the Reds' pitching development story this season, and Tuesday's start against a lineup as formidable as the Dodgers' will tell us something real about where he stands. This is the kind of outing that builds résumés — or exposes gaps.

On the other side, Yoshinobu Yamamoto is the assignment nobody wants. The Dodgers' ace-caliber starter brings elite stuff and the pedigree of a pitcher who has dominated at every level he has reached. Squaring up Yamamoto is a legitimate challenge, and the Reds' lineup will need to be patient and disciplined to have any chance of getting into the bullpen early.

Reds Lineup to Watch

Cincinnati sends out a lineup built around speed at the top and pop in the middle. Carlos Jorge leads off in center field, with Elly De La Cruz hitting second at shortstop — a combination that can create chaos on the bases before the middle of the order even steps in. Sal Stewart bats third at first base, followed by JJ Bleday cleaning up in left field. Eugenio Suárez slots in at five as the designated hitter, bringing veteran experience to a lineup that skews young.

• Carlos Jorge, CF — Sets the table from the leadoff spot; his ability to get on base against Yamamoto will be critical.
• Elly De La Cruz, SS — The most electric player on the roster. If he reaches base, the Dodgers have a problem.
• Sal Stewart, 1B — The young first baseman batting third is a sign of how much the organization trusts his bat.
• JJ Bleday, LF — The cleanup hitter needs to do cleanup hitter things against one of the best pitchers in the game.
• Eugenio Suárez, DH — Veteran presence in the five hole; has the power to punish a mistake pitch.

Keys to the Game

• Work the count against Yamamoto. Elite starters become more vulnerable the deeper into counts hitters push them. The Reds cannot afford to chase early in at-bats.
• Lowder must limit the big inning. The Dodgers do not need many opportunities to do damage. Keeping runners off base and avoiding crooked numbers is the assignment.
• De La Cruz on the bases. If Elly gets on, he changes the entire complexion of an inning. Speed is one of the few tools that neutralizes great pitching.
• Bullpen management. If Lowder exits early, how the Reds bridge to the back end of their bullpen could decide the outcome.

Prediction

This is a tough draw. Yamamoto is a difficult matchup for any lineup, and the Reds will need to scrap for runs. Lowder's ability to match zeros early is the key variable — if he can keep Cincinnati within striking distance through five or six innings, this game stays alive. Expect a low-scoring affair. The Reds steal one, 3-2, on a big swing from Bleday or Suárez late. But it won't be easy, and it won't be pretty. That's September baseball at Great American Ball Park.