The Cincinnati Reds wrap up another home date at Great American Ball Park on Thursday, September 17, when they welcome the Los Angeles Dodgers for a 12:40 PM ET first pitch. Brady Singer gets the ball for Cincinnati against Dodgers left-hander Justin Wrobleski in what shapes up as a compelling late-September matchup. With the regular season winding down, every game carries real weight, and the Reds will need a strong performance from their rotation to take care of business in front of the home crowd.
Pitching Matchup: Brady Singer vs. Justin Wrobleski
Brady Singer is Cincinnati's starter of record for this one. Singer has been a key piece of the Reds rotation, and a quality start here could go a long way toward setting the tone for the final stretch of the season. The Reds need innings from him — not just early outs, but the kind of sustained, inning-eating performance that keeps the bullpen fresh heading into the final weeks of September.
On the other side, the Dodgers send Justin Wrobleski to the hill. Wrobleski is a younger arm working his way through Los Angeles' deep organizational system. The Reds will look to test him early, put pressure on his pitch count, and force the Dodgers' bullpen into action as soon as possible. Cincinnati's lineup has the ability to make opposing starters work, and getting into the Los Angeles relief corps is a legitimate path to a win.
Keys to Watch for the Reds
- Singer's command: Singer's effectiveness lives and dies with his ability to locate his pitches. If he's hitting his spots and keeping Dodgers hitters off-balance, Cincinnati has a legitimate shot at controlling this game from the jump.
- Early-count aggression: Against a younger starter in Wrobleski, the Reds should look to attack early in counts. Don't let him settle in and find a rhythm. Putting runners on base in the first two innings sets the tone.
- Bullpen management: A September afternoon game at Great American Ball Park means the bullpen could be a factor. Manager Terry Francona's crew will need to navigate the middle innings wisely if Singer doesn't go deep into the game.
- Defensive execution: The Dodgers are a disciplined offensive club that makes teams pay for defensive lapses. Clean play behind Singer is non-negotiable if the Reds want to stay ahead.
Prediction
This is a winnable game for Cincinnati. Singer pitching at home, a younger opposing starter, and a motivated Reds lineup late in the regular season is a combination that leans in the home team's favor. The Reds take this one, 4-2, with Singer going six innings and the offense doing enough early damage against Wrobleski to hold on through nine.
Catch the game on Reds.TV or locally on WLW 700 AM. First pitch from Great American Ball Park is set for 12:40 PM ET on Thursday, September 17.
