Dodgers @ Reds September 14, 2026: Skubal starts in Cincy as the Dodgers and Reds meet up for the second time in a week

Alex Campos 09/14/2026 Game Threads Leave A Comment

The Dodgers (90-59) had a very disappointing series loss in Miami over the weekend, as they blew a chance to gain a game on the Brewers and expand their lead over Atlanta yesterday. Both teams lost and the Dodgers were in the driver’s seat with a 3-0 lead headed into the bottom of the eighth. The Dodger defense reverted back to their July/August ways, as some sloppy play led to two Cincy reds in the bottom of the eighth. They got an insurance run for a 4-2 lead, but an infield single and bunt single set up Javier Sanoja for a game-tying two-run double before an Agustin Ramirez pinch hit walk off homer. The Dodgers remain nine up on the Padres in the NL West and can clinch a playoff berth with a win or losses by both the Padres and Diamondbacks. They’re still 2.5 back of the Brewers for the top seed in the NL and 2.5 up on Atlanta for the 2-seed and first round bye. Today, the Dodgers head to Cincinnati for four with the Reds. The Reds came to LA for three literally last Monday and the Dodgers swept, outscoring the Reds 23-6 in the three games. A lot of that Dodger offense came in a 14-1 finale last Wednesday. The Reds had an insane stretch there, giving up 14 runs in the finale and then giving up 20 and 13 runs in the first to games of their weekend series against the Brewers. The Reds did take the finale on the back of a three-run shot by Eugenio Suarez.

Today’s game is a rematch of the pitching matchup last Tuesday with Tarik Skubal facing off with Nick Lodolo. Skubal pitched into the eighth inning for the first time as a Dodger in that game, with all the damage coming in the third. Skubal got the first two outs of the inning before Dane Myers singled, which set up Elly De La Cruz to hit a ball 444 feet allegedly (it seemed much farther). Skubal bounced back nicely and got through seven without any further damage. He stayed in to get the first out of the eighth before getting lifted for Edgardo Henriquez, who gave up a loud double to Elly but got through the inning unscathed. Skubal gave up four hits and two walks in his 7 1/3 innings but only struck out five, the fewest he’s struck out as a Dodger.

Lodolo had a tougher time in that start, as he gave up three runs on five hits and three walks in 4 2/3 innings. He did strike out six, but threw more pitches (97) than Skubal (94) despite throwing nearly three fewer innings. Will Smith started the scoring with a first inning homer, and the Dodgers loaded the bases against Lodolo in the second on two walks and a single. Lodolo hit Tommy Edman with a pitch to plate a second run, but got Mookie Betts to ground out to keep the damage at one. His command issues hurt him again in the fifth, where a walk and hit by pitch set up a Teoscar Hernandez RBI single for a third run that knocked Lodolo out of the game.

The Dodgers only had two left-handed hitters in the lineup against Lodolo, which led to some confusing changes in his pitch mix. Depsite facing primarily righties, Lodolo threw the changeup a season-low 12.4 percent of the time and threw the curveball the second-most he’s thrown it this season (33 percent). Overall this season, he’s thrown the change 22.8 percent of the time nearly exclusively against righties (367 total changeups, 363 to righties). It’s also his most-used pitch against righties (29.6 percent usage), so we’ll see if he leans on that more this start.

Freddie Freeman is out of the lineup as promised. He’s reached base once in the last four games and has only one more hit (3) in September than double plays (2) in 30 at-bats. Enrique Hernandez gets the start at first with Max Muncy starting at third. Miguel Rojas is in the lineup after tweaking his shoulder yesterday, and Josue De Paula DH’s and hits ninth despite facing a lefty.

——

Emmet Sheehan was excellent yesterday in Miami, so his reward is being optioned back to OKC. Paul Gervase is back up to help cover the bullpen.

Sheehan allowed two hits and a walk over six shutout innings and has given up one run in 11 2/3 innings since returning back to the bigs a couple weeks ago. He’s probably shown more at this point that Justin Wrobleski so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him back up and maybe as an option in October. Gervase has been at OKC since late July and gave up 14 runs in 22 1/3 innings, but six of them came in one disastrous outing on July 18.

Kris Bubic has also joined the team in Cincy, but won’t be activated yet.

Bubic hasn’t pitched in the Majors since May with a shoulder issue and has made six rehab outings for the Dodgers since the trade deadline. Bubic hasn’t allowed a run in his six outings, with two walks and two hits allowed and nine strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. He pitched back-to-backs last Thursday/Friday and pitched again yesterday, so he won’t be active until Wednesday at the earliest. Bubic could play a big part down the stretch, especially as Edwin Diaz continues to struggle in his rehab. Diaz gave up five runs on two hits and three walks in 2/3 of an inning for OKC yesterday, and he could be left off the playoff roster if he continues to struggle.

Roki Sasaki also threw a bullpen today.

He could return for the finale in Cincy, but they’ll seemingly be cautious to not reopen his blister.

——

In hitter updates, Shohei Ohtani and Andy Pages continue to progress.

Ohtani will start hitting tomorrow and Andy Pages will start hitting normal balls in the cage soon.

——

First pitch is scheduled for 3:40 PM PT and will be on SportsNet LA.

About Alex Campos

I've been writing about the Dodgers since I graduated from Long Beach State, where I covered the Dirtbags in my senior year. I'm either very good or very bad at puns.
Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2014-2026 | Dodgers Digest | All Rights Reserved