The Cincinnati Reds travel to American Family Field in Milwaukee for a Friday night showdown against the Brewers, with first pitch set for 7:45 PM ET on September 11, 2026. Andrew Abbott takes the ball for Cincinnati against Milwaukee's Dustin May in what shapes up as a genuine pitching duel. With the calendar deep into the regular season and NL Central positioning still on the table, this is exactly the kind of divisional road game the Reds cannot afford to let slip away. Catch it on Apple TV or locally on WLW 700.

Pitching Matchup: Andrew Abbott vs. Dustin May

Abbott gets the start for Cincinnati and represents one of the more compelling storylines to watch on this road trip. The lefty has been a key piece of the Reds rotation, and a strong outing at American Family Field — a hitter-friendly environment — would go a long way toward building momentum late in the season. His ability to generate swing-and-miss with his curveball will be tested against a Milwaukee lineup that can put the bat on the ball.

Dustin May takes the mound for Milwaukee. The former Dodgers right-hander brings a power arsenal, and Cincinnati's lineup will need to stay disciplined and work counts early. May has the kind of stuff that can blow through an offense that chases, so the Reds need patience at the plate from top to bottom.

Cincinnati Reds Lineup and Players to Watch

• Elly De La Cruz (SS, batting 2nd) — De La Cruz in the two-hole gives Cincinnati a legitimate threat on the bases and in the box early in the lineup. His at-bats against May will set the tone for the night.
• Sal Stewart (1B, batting 3rd) — Stewart hitting third signals real trust in the young first baseman. His ability to drive runners in from the top of the order matters here.
• JJ Bleday (LF, batting 4th) — Bleday anchors the heart of the order. A productive night from the cleanup spot could be the difference in a tight divisional game.
• Tyler Stephenson (C, batting 5th) — Stephenson provides professional at-bats and pop behind Bleday. He's a stabilizing force in the middle of this lineup.
• Eugenio Suárez (DH, batting 6th) — Suárez is back in Cincinnati red and knows American Family Field well. His presence in the six-spot adds another layer of danger to this order.

Milwaukee Brewers Lineup Threats

• Jackson Chourio (LF, batting 1st) — The young outfielder is one of Milwaukee's most exciting players. Abbott must keep him off the bases early or the Brewers' offense can snowball quickly.
• William Contreras (C, batting 3rd) — Contreras is one of the more dangerous hitters in the NL Central. Abbott will need a plan against him every single at-bat.
• Andrew Vaughn (DH, batting 4th) — Vaughn in the cleanup role gives Milwaukee a legitimate power threat. Abbott cannot leave anything over the middle of the plate to him.

Keys to the Game

• Abbott must work efficiently and limit walks. Free baserunners against a lineup with Chourio, Contreras, and Vaughn will be punished.
• Cincinnati's lineup needs to grind out early counts against May and get into Milwaukee's bullpen by the sixth or seventh inning.
• Baserunning will matter. With De La Cruz near the top of the order, the Reds have the speed to manufacture runs — and they should use it.
• The Reds' bullpen must be ready to bridge innings cleanly if Abbott runs into trouble at any point.

Prediction

This is a winnable road game for Cincinnati if Abbott is on. A divisional matchup this late in the regular season demands that the Reds show up focused and sharp. Expect a close, low-scoring game where the team that converts its best scoring chance first takes the advantage. The Reds have the lineup depth to scratch out runs against May, and Abbott has the ability to keep Milwaukee honest. Cincinnati takes this one, 4-2.