The Cincinnati Reds hit the road to face the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on Tuesday, August 11, with first pitch scheduled for 7:40 PM ET. Nick Lodolo gets the ball for Cincinnati against Chicago's Sean Burke in what shapes up as a pitching-forward affair between two clubs looking to make their mark in the second half. The game airs locally on Reds.TV and WLW 700 AM for the Reds faithful who can't make the trip north.

Nick Lodolo vs. Sean Burke: Tuesday Night Pitching Matchup

Lodolo is the story on the mound for Cincinnati. When the left-hander is locked in, he's the kind of arm that can carry a rotation and keep a ballgame exactly where the Reds need it. The matchup against Burke and the White Sox lineup presents a genuine opportunity for Lodolo to go deep into the game and give the Cincinnati bullpen a breather.

Burke draws the assignment for Chicago. The White Sox right-hander will be tested by a Reds lineup that has some real punch in the middle of the order, and how he navigates the Cincinnati bats early will set the tone for the entire game.

Cincinnati Reds Starting Lineup at Rate Field

• Elly De La Cruz, SS
• Sal Stewart, 1B
• JJ Bleday, LF
• Tyler Stephenson, C
• Eugenio Suárez, DH
• Héctor Rodríguez, RF
• Dane Myers, CF
• Matt McLain, 2B
• Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B

Chicago White Sox Starting Lineup

• Brenton Doyle, CF
• Munetaka Murakami, 1B
• Miguel Vargas, 3B
• Randal Grichuk, LF
• Braden Montgomery, RF
• Colson Montgomery, DH
• Edgar Quero, C
• Sam Antonacci, 2B
• Luisangel Acuña, SS

Keys to Watch for the Cincinnati Reds

Elly De La Cruz Sets the Table

De La Cruz leading off is nothing new, but every time he steps into the box to open a game, the entire complexion of the inning changes. His ability to reach base and create chaos on the basepaths puts immediate pressure on opposing pitchers. If De La Cruz is on base early, Burke is going to be pitching from behind before he's even settled in.

Lodolo's Command Against a Rebuilt Lineup

The White Sox lineup features some interesting names — Munetaka Murakami at first base is a powerful presence, and Randal Grichuk still has pop as a cleanup option. Lodolo's ability to work both sides of the plate and keep hitters off-balance will be the defining factor. If he's locating his fastball and mixing his secondary pitches effectively, this is a favorable matchup for Cincinnati.

Middle of the Order Needs to Deliver

Tyler Stephenson hitting cleanup and Eugenio Suárez behind him gives the Reds genuine run-producing capacity in spots three through five. Getting those bats going against Burke early — before Chicago can turn to the bullpen — is the clearest path to a Cincinnati victory.

Prediction

Lodolo handles a young and developing White Sox lineup, and De La Cruz does enough damage at the top to give the Reds the cushion they need. Cincinnati wins a clean one, 4-2, with Lodolo going six-plus innings and the bullpen closing it out without much drama. Reds take the opener.