The Cincinnati Reds return to Great American Ball Park on Monday, August 31, 2026, to host the San Diego Padres in a 6:40 PM ET first pitch. Brady Singer gets the ball for Cincinnati against Padres right-hander Michael King. With the regular season winding toward its final month, every game carries real weight in the standings, and this one is no exception. Catch the action locally on Reds.TV, WXIX FOX19, or on the radio with WLW 700.

Pitching Matchup: Brady Singer vs. Michael King

Singer steps to the rubber as Cincinnati's starter in what figures to be a pitching-forward ballgame. The right-hander has been a fixture in the Reds rotation and will need to deliver a quality start against a San Diego lineup that is built to grind out at-bats and make pitchers work deep into counts. King, meanwhile, is no soft touch — the Padres acquired him to be a front-line arm, and he has the stuff to neutralize a Cincinnati lineup that can be explosive when it gets going.

The key for Singer is limiting damage in the middle innings, when bullpen decisions can swing momentum in a hurry. For King, keeping the Reds' lineup off-balance will require mixing his arsenal effectively in a ballpark that rewards hard contact.

Cincinnati Lineup to Watch

The Reds are sending out a well-constructed lineup Monday night. Héctor Rodríguez leads off from right field, with Elly De La Cruz slotted in at the two-hole as the designated hitter — a dangerous combination at the top of the order that gives Cincinnati genuine speed and athleticism before the lineup even gets to its heart.

• Sal Stewart hits third at first base and represents one of the organization's most intriguing young bats.
• JJ Bleday bats cleanup in left field, tasked with doing damage against a quality starter in King.
• Tyler Stephenson handles catching duties and hits fifth, bringing contact ability and experience to a critical spot in the order.
• Eugenio Suárez slots in at third base and bats sixth, still a threat for extra-base damage from the left side of the infield.
• Matt McLain hits seventh at shortstop, Edwin Arroyo bats ninth at second base, and TJ Friedl rounds things out in center field at the eight spot.

Keys to the Game

Singer's Efficiency

If Singer can stay economical with his pitch count and work into the sixth or seventh inning, the Reds keep their bullpen fresh for a stretch run where depth matters. A short outing flips the game into a battle of relief arms, which adds uncertainty on both sides.

De La Cruz and the Top of the Order

Elly De La Cruz batting second gives the Reds a genuine table-setter with a dimension most lineups cannot replicate. When he is on base, the entire complexion of the inning changes. Cincinnati needs him to be a factor early and often against King.

Making King Work

King is at his best when he is rolling through lineups quickly. The Reds need disciplined at-bats, deep counts, and baserunners in bunches to keep San Diego's starter from settling into a rhythm and dominating a home crowd that will be looking for something to cheer about.

Prediction

This shapes up as a tight, low-scoring game decided by two or three swings. Singer holds the Padres to two runs or fewer, the Reds scratch across enough offense behind Bleday and De La Cruz, and Great American Ball Park gets a walk-off atmosphere by the seventh inning. Reds win, 3-2.