The Cincinnati Reds welcome the Philadelphia Phillies to Great American Ball Park on Thursday, July 9, with first pitch set for 7:10 PM ET. Brady Singer toes the rubber for Cincinnati opposite Philadelphia's Jesús Luzardo in what shapes up as a genuine pitching duel between two capable starters. With Elly De La Cruz leading off and a lineup that features Spencer Steer cleaning up at first base, the Reds have the offensive firepower to make life difficult for any visiting staff. This one matters — National League competition at home means every game counts in the standings race.

Starting Pitching Matchup: Singer vs. Luzardo

Brady Singer gets the ball for the Reds on Thursday night. Singer is a power arm built for big moments, and pitching at home in front of a Great American Ball Park crowd is exactly the kind of stage he can thrive on. He'll need to execute, because Jesús Luzardo is no soft touch for Philadelphia. Luzardo is a left-hander with swing-and-miss stuff across multiple pitch types, and he's capable of keeping a lineup quiet deep into a game. Neither pitcher's current season stats were available at preview time, so judge the matchup on pedigree — and both of these guys have earned respect in the National League.

Cincinnati Reds Starting Lineup

• 1. Elly De La Cruz — SS
• 2. Sal Stewart — 3B
• 3. JJ Bleday — LF
• 4. Spencer Steer — 1B
• 5. Eugenio Suárez — DH
• 6. Tyler Stephenson — C
• 7. Noelvi Marte — RF
• 8. Edwin Arroyo — 2B
• 9. TJ Friedl — CF

Keys to Watch Thursday Night

Can Elly De La Cruz Set the Tone?

De La Cruz at the top of the order is the engine that makes this Reds offense go. When he gets on base and uses his speed, it creates problems for opposing pitchers and opens up the middle of the lineup. Luzardo will know that neutralizing De La Cruz early is critical to keeping Philadelphia in control.

Singer's Command in the Strike Zone

Singer's best outings come when he's attacking hitters and not falling behind in counts. Against a Phillies lineup that can do real damage when pitchers work from behind, Singer needs to be sharp and efficient. If he can give Cincinnati six innings of quality work, the Reds bullpen gets a manageable situation.

Middle of the Order Productivity

Bleday, Steer, and Suárez form a legitimate three-through-five combination with the ability to drive in runs in bunches. If Luzardo is even slightly hittable, this group has the potential to make him pay. Steer at cleanup is a sign of confidence from the Reds' coaching staff in his run-production ability.

Prediction

This is a tight matchup on paper. Singer at home with a full lineup behind him gives Cincinnati an edge, and Great American Ball Park can be a genuine factor on a summer Thursday night with the crowd engaged. Expect a low-scoring game that comes down to late innings. Give the Reds a 4-2 win on the strength of Singer's outing and a big hit from the middle of the order.

Catch all the action on Reds.TV, NBCSP, or WLW 700 AM.