The Cincinnati Reds wrap up the final stretch of the 2026 regular season on the road, heading to Rogers Centre in Toronto to face the Blue Jays on Friday, September 25. First pitch is scheduled for 7:07 PM ET, with Nick Lodolo getting the ball for Cincinnati. With the regular season winding down, every game carries weight in the standings, making this a must-watch Friday night matchup for Reds fans tuning in on Reds.TV or listening on WLW 700.
Reds at Blue Jays: Pitching Matchup at Rogers Centre
Nick Lodolo draws the start for Cincinnati, which in itself is worth the price of admission. The left-hander has been one of the Reds' most important arms whenever healthy, and his presence at the top of a late-season road start speaks to where the organization's trust sits heading into the final days of the schedule. Toronto has not yet confirmed a probable starter, so the Reds will be preparing for multiple scenarios out of the Blue Jays' rotation.
Keys to Watch in This Game
Lodolo's Command on the Road
Rogers Centre presents its own unique challenges — the turf, the dome, and a Toronto lineup that can do damage against left-handed pitching. Lodolo's ability to locate his fastball and work his secondary pitches will be the central story on the mound for Cincinnati.
Toronto's Unknown Starter
With no confirmed Blue Jays starter in the data available, Cincinnati's lineup will need to stay loose and adjust early. A bullpen game from Toronto is a real possibility, and the Reds' hitters will need to grind out at-bats and work pitch counts regardless of who takes the hill.
Late-Season Road Execution
Road games in the final week of a regular season can go sideways fast if a club loses focus. The Reds need to play clean baseball — limit unearned runs, stay disciplined at the plate, and let Lodolo work deep into the game to protect the bullpen down the stretch.
- Watch Lodolo's first-inning efficiency — setting the tone early on the road matters
- Track how the Reds lineup attacks an unannounced or bullpen-style Toronto pitching plan
- Monitor Toronto's run production against left-handed starters
- Bullpen management will be critical with the regular season nearly complete
Prediction: Reds Steal One in Toronto
Lodolo on the mound in a late-season game is a good spot for Cincinnati. With the Blue Jays yet to name a starter, the advantage in pitching certainty belongs to the Reds tonight. Expect a competitive, low-scoring game decided in the middle innings. Give the edge to Cincinnati, 4-2, on the strength of Lodolo's arm and a Reds offense that finds enough against a Toronto staff working without a confirmed top-of-rotation answer.
