The Cincinnati Reds head to Oracle Park on Tuesday, August 25 for a late-night West Coast clash against the San Francisco Giants, first pitch set for 9:45 PM ET. Brady Singer gets the ball for Cincinnati against Giants right-hander Adrian Houser in a matchup that carries real regular-season weight for a Reds squad looking to make ground on the road. Elly De La Cruz leads off for Cincinnati, Tyler Stephenson bats cleanup, and Eugenio Suárez returns to the lineup at DH in what shapes up as a competitive mid-week affair worth watching.

Brady Singer vs. Adrian Houser: Tuesday's Pitching Matchup

Singer takes the mound for the Reds in a matchup against a familiar arm in Houser, a veteran right-hander who has bounced around the league and knows how to generate ground balls. Singer's assignment is straightforward: attack the zone, limit walks, and keep this Giants lineup from stringing together damage. San Francisco's order features some genuine threats — Rafael Devers batting second at first base and Jung Hoo Lee at DH in the three-hole — so Singer cannot afford to be passive early. The Giants will counter with Houser, who will try to neutralize a Reds lineup that has real pop from top to bottom.

Cincinnati Reds Starting Lineup at San Francisco

• 1. Elly De La Cruz — SS
• 2. Sal Stewart — 1B
• 3. JJ Bleday — LF
• 4. Tyler Stephenson — C
• 5. Eugenio Suárez — DH
• 6. Matt McLain — 2B
• 7. Héctor Rodríguez — RF
• 8. Ke'Bryan Hayes — 3B
• 9. TJ Friedl — CF

Key Storylines to Watch at Oracle Park

Elly De La Cruz Setting the Table

De La Cruz in the leadoff spot is the engine that makes this Reds offense move. When he gets on base and uses his elite speed, Cincinnati's offense has a different dimension entirely. The Giants' pitching staff will have to account for him every time he reaches, and that attention creates opportunities for Sal Stewart and JJ Bleday behind him.

Suárez in the Lineup

Eugenio Suárez sliding into the DH spot is a meaningful addition for Cincinnati. A proven power bat with postseason experience, Suárez gives the middle of this order genuine depth. His presence batting fifth behind Stephenson makes this lineup harder to navigate top to bottom.

Stephenson as the Anchor

Tyler Stephenson batting cleanup tells you everything about where Cincinnati's trust lies. He's the middle-of-the-order presence the Reds have leaned on, and his at-bats against Houser in the heart of the game could be the difference-maker. If Singer keeps the game close, Stephenson and company need to manufacture runs on the road.

Oracle Park's Late-Night Conditions

Night games at Oracle Park along the San Francisco Bay come with cool, marine-layer air that can suppress offense. That environment tends to favor pitchers, which could work in Singer's favor if he's locating his fastball and mixing his secondary pitches effectively.

Prediction: Reds Take a Tight Road Win

This is a manageable matchup for Cincinnati on paper. Houser is hittable when his command wavers, and the Reds have enough firepower — particularly with De La Cruz at the top and Suárez and Stephenson in the middle — to get to him. Singer needs a quality start, six innings and three runs or fewer, to give the bullpen a chance to close this out. Call it a 4-2 Reds win in a grinding, low-scoring ballgame that goes the Reds' way.

Catch the action on Reds.TV or WLW 700 AM starting at 9:45 PM ET Tuesday night.