Brooke: Elly De La Cruz just dropped four runs on the Brewers, but tonight he faces a different beast entirely. The Los Angeles Dodgers are rolling with five straight wins, and their ace Emmet Sheehan is looking unhittable. Can Cincinnati’s battered roster survive another night in Dodger Stadium? Stay right here because we’re breaking down exactly what it will take for the Reds to steal even one game from the best team in baseball.
Tony: It’s a tough look on paper. The Reds are sitting at sixty-nine and seventy-five, fifth in the NL Central, while LA is cruising at eighty-seven and fifty-seven. We’ve talked all week about how injuries are decimating this clubhouse, and now they have to face a Dodgers team that just won six to three behind Teoscar Hernández’s three-run homer and Sheehan’s ten strikeouts. It’s not going to be pretty, but there are angles here.
Brooke: That’s right, Tony. Tonight on the Beatline, we’re previewing Game Two of this three-game set. First, we’ll look at the pitching matchup and who might take the mound for Cincinnati after last night’s rough outing. Second, we’ll dive into the offensive struggles and how the bullpen is handling the pressure. And finally, we’ll give you our keys to the series and a bold prediction for where this goes.
Tony: We’re also going to touch on the injury report, which is basically a phone book by now. Spencer Steer is out, Hunter Greene is on the sixty-day IL, and we still don’t have a clear timeline for some of these guys. But let’s get into it. Brooke, you want to start us off with the rotation?
Brooke: I do. Last night was a wake-up call. The Dodgers dominated early, and Cincinnati’s offense couldn’t string together any consistent hits. But before we talk about hitting, we need to know who’s starting today. The Reds have a thin rotation right now with multiple arms on the injured list. Who are we looking at for the starter tonight?
Tony: Well, looking at the available arms, Andrew Abbott, Chase Burns, Nick Lodolo, Rhett Lowder, Brady Singer, and Brandon Williamson are the options left. Given that they lost last night, I’m guessing they’ll go with someone who can eat innings. Probably Brady Singer or Brandon Williamson. The Dodgers, meanwhile, likely have their ace ready to go again given how deep their staff is.
Brooke: It’s a daunting task. You’re asking a Reds pitcher to go toe-to-toe with a Dodgers lineup that has been clicking lately. Remember, Sheehan tied a career high with ten strikeouts last night in his first major league outing since August second. That kind of stuff doesn’t happen by accident. How do you expect Cincinnati’s bats to handle that velocity and command?
Tony: They probably won’t. Look, the ABS challenge system tracker shows that teams against elite strikeout pitchers often struggle with plate discipline. The Reds’ issue isn’t just power; it’s consistency. Matt McLain had a great hit last Saturday, snapping a tie with a leadoff homer, but since then, the lineup has gone quiet. Against Sheehan or any Dodgers starter, you need to lay off the bad pitches, and Cincinnati has struggled with that all season.
Brooke: Right. And it’s not just the starting pitcher. The Dodgers are playing on a home winning streak. They feel invincible right now. If Cincinnati gets an early deficit, can they rally? Or are they too fatigued from that twelve to eight thriller against Milwaukee on Sunday? Elly De La Cruz had four RBIs in that win, but that’s a lot of ground to cover for one player.
Tony: Exactly. You can’t rely solely on De La Cruz. He’s fantastic, but if the rest of the lineup is offline, it puts immense pressure on the bullpen. And let’s be honest, the Reds’ bullpen is banged up. Eric Lauer is out, and we’re relying on guys like Tejay Antone and Tony Santillan to close things out. If the starter doesn’t go deep, those relievers are going to be gassed by the sixth inning.
Brooke: It’s a classic case of depth versus talent. LA has the talent everywhere. Cincinnati has the heart, but does the heart count when you’re facing a nine-inning shutout threat? I think the key here is the first three innings. If Cincinnati can score early, maybe they can keep it close. But if they fall behind by three or more, it’s over. What do you think, Tony? Is there a path to victory?
Tony: The path is narrow. It requires perfect execution. No errors, no costly mistakes, and a starting pitcher who can throw strikes. Even then, they need the Dodgers to cold. Because let’s face it, the Reds’ offense is inconsistent. They scored five runs on three homers against Milwaukee, but only three against LA. The disparity in run production is real. Unless something changes, I see another loss here.
Brooke: Ouch. A loss seems likely. But hey, that’s why we watch, right? To see if they can shock the world. Let’s move on to the next topic. We’ve talked pitching, now let’s talk hitting. Who are the guys Cincinnati needs to step up besides Elly De La Cruz? And what about the injuries affecting the lineup?
Tony: Matt McLain is the obvious choice. He’s shown he can hit for average and power. Then you have Eugenio Suarez, who provides some pop in the middle of the order. But the big question is the catcher situation. Will Banfield, Tyler Stephenson, and Jose Trevino are all on the roster. With Dalton Rushing on the ten-day IL, they need one of those guys to catch well and manage the game.
Brooke: And speaking of injuries, we can’t ignore the list. Spencer Steer is out, which hurts the outfield defense and batting order. Hunter Greene is out for the season, which decimates the rotation. Roki Sasaki and Kris Bubic are also on the long-term IL. It’s a disaster for building chemistry. How does a manager navigate this?
Tony: You shuffle. You play kids. You hope for the best. Michael Toglia and Blake Dunn are on the sixty-day IL too. It’s essentially a rebuild within a season. The front office made some moves, but the injuries have derailed any momentum. For tonight, they’re going to have to rely on guys like Juan Brito and Ke’Bryan Hayes to hold down the infield. It’s a patchwork job.
Brooke: It’s frustrating for the fans. They want to see their team compete, but every time they turn on the radio, there’s another name on the injury report. Does this affect the players' confidence? Do they look hesitant at the plate? We saw them beat Milwaukee, so there’s some belief, but beating LA is a whole different animal.
Tony: I think it affects their approach. When you’re unsure about your defensive alignment because guys are missing, you play tighter. You make routine plays harder. Against a team like the Dodgers, who exploit every weakness, that tightness leads to errors. And errors lead to runs. It’s a vicious cycle. But Elly De La Cruz is having fun. Maybe that energy rubs off.
Brooke: Absolutely. Elly brings that spark. When he’s swinging, everyone else wants to swing. But can he carry the load alone? We know he hit a two-run homer and a bases-loaded double against Milwaukee. That’s huge. But against the Dodgers, who have elite pitching, he might face more scrutiny. Every pitch he sees could be targeted.
Tony: That’s the danger. Pitchers will try to intimidate him. They’ll come inside. They’ll test his patience. If Elly stays disciplined, he can still produce. But if he chases a slider in the dirt, the whole lineup stalls. It’s all about plate discipline. The Reds have struggled with that all year. If they can improve just a little bit, they might stay competitive.
Brooke: Discipline is key. Okay, so we’ve got the pitching matchup, the offensive struggles, and the injury woes. Now let’s wrap it up with our keys to the series and a bold prediction. What does Cincinnati need to do to win even one game? And what’s your final call for this series?
Tony: Key number one: Starting pitching must go at least five innings. Key number two: The bullpen must not blow the save in the ninth. And key number three: Elly De La Cruz must have a multi-hit game. If those three things happen, Cincinnati can steal a game. Otherwise, the Dodgers take the series.
Brooke: I agree with the starting pitching point. If they get six solid innings, they have a chance. My bold prediction? I think the Reds split the series. Yes, LA is better, but Cincinnati has proven they can beat good teams, like Milwaukee did. If Elly keeps heating up, they might just squeak out a win in Game Three.
Tony: I’ll take the under on that. I think the Dodgers win two of three. Their depth is just too much. But hey, being wrong is part of the game. At least we’re keeping the conversation alive. What do you think, listeners? Do you agree with my pessimism, or are you riding the wave of Elly De La Cruz’s hot streak?
Brooke: Thanks for listening, folks! We covered the pitching disparity, the injury headaches, and why Elly De La Cruz is your best bet for excitement tonight. Before we go, remember that putting out a fresh show every single day takes a lot of work and resources. A handful of supporters makes that possible, helping keep the Beatline free for everyone. If you can, please chip in via the link in the episode description.
Tony: We appreciate every single one of you. Your support means the world to us. It allows us to keep digging into the stats, breaking down the games, and bringing you the best analysis around. So if you haven’t already, head over to that link and consider joining the family.
Brooke: Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review wherever you get your podcasts. Share this episode with a friend who loves the Reds. Let’s get those numbers up! Now, grab your popcorn, settle in, and enjoy the game.
Tony: Go Reds. Let’s see what they’ve got tonight.