Brooke: Elly De La Cruz is staring down the barrel of a .300 exit velocity, and he’s got seven shutout innings of Tarik Skubal to answer for. If Cincinnati wants to survive this four-game set against the defending champs, they can’t just hope for chaos—they need execution.
Tony: It’s a steep hill to climb. The Dodgers are locked in, clinically efficient, and riding a 14th consecutive playoff berth high after that 4-1 win last night. But baseball is a game of margins, and we’re here to break down exactly where those margins lie tonight.
Brooke: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network! I’m Brooke, and alongside me as always is our lead analyst, Tony. We are live from Great American Ball Park, where the air is thick with humidity and tension. Tonight, the Cincinnati Reds (70-80) host the Los Angeles Dodgers (90-59).
Tony: That’s right, Brooke. It’s Sunday evening, Game Two of the series. After losing Game One behind Skubal’s dominance and power from Kyle Tucker and Teoscar Hernandez, the Reds need to flip the script. We’ve got three things breaking down tonight: who starts on the mound for Cincinnati, how the injury list impacts the lineup construction, and the specific pitching matchup angles that could decide this series.
Brooke: Let’s dive straight into Segment One: The Series and the Pitching Probables. Tony, you looked at the rotation options. With Hunter Greene and Kris Bubic both on the 60-day IL, and Roki Sasaki on the 15-day IL, the Reds’ starting depth is stretched thin. Who do you see in the box for tonight?
Tony: If Andrew Abbott isn’t able to go—he was mentioned in previous contexts regarding his start—but assuming he’s cleared or if we’re looking at the next available arm, it’s likely Brady Singer or Nick Lodolo. But honestly, Brooke, the most interesting angle isn’t just who starts, but how the Reds manage the bullpen over these four games. They faced Milwaukee earlier in the week, so there’s some fatigue factor to consider.
Brooke: Right, and remember yesterday we talked about how the offense struggled against Milwaukee’s elite lineup. Facing the Dodgers is a different beast entirely. Their offense is potent, led by guys like Freddie Freeman, who is listed as Day-To-Day. Does his availability change your view on the Reds' defensive positioning?
Tony: Absolutely. Freeman is a lefty-on-righty nightmare. If he’s playing, you have to respect the pull side. But more importantly, look at the Dodgers' recent performance. They secured their playoff spot with a complete team effort. Skubal threw seven shutout innings. That tells you LA is peaking at the wrong time for Cincinnati. For the Reds to win, they can’t just rely on one starter to go deep. They need to eat up innings early because the bullpen is going to be taxed.
Brooke: So, the strategy shifts from 'get through five' to 'manage the middle relief.' Let’s talk about the relievers. You’ve got Tejay Antone, Tony Santillan, Graham Ashcraft... who is the guy you want closing out tight games against this Dodgers lineup?
Tony: Santillan has been the most consistent arm for them lately. His stuff plays up in the strike zone. But here’s the tactical nuance: the Dodgers love to move runners. If you give up a hit, they’re going to turn it into two runs. So it’s not just about strikeouts; it’s about inducing weak contact. Ashcraft has been solid, but I’d trust Santillan in a high-leverage spot against a team that’s confident and comfortable.
Brooke: Confidence is huge. And let’s be real, the Reds are 70-80. They aren’t fighting for the division title. But pride matters. Do you think the lack of stakes makes them loose, or does it free them up to play aggressively?
Tony: It’s a double-edged sword. No pressure can mean better flow, but it can also mean less urgency. Against a team like LA, who is playing for legacy and playoff seeding, that difference in intensity often shows up in the late innings. I worry about the Reds’ ability to hold a lead if they get one. The Dodgers don’t panic; they execute.
Brooke: Ouch. Okay, let’s pivot. We need to talk about the elephant in the room. Or rather, the missing elephants. The injury report is heavy. Spencer Steer is on the 10-day IL. Matt McLain is Day-To-Day. Michael Toglia and Blake Dunn are on the 60-day IL. How does this reshape the daily lineup?
Tony: It’s a major blow. Steer provides power from the middle of the order. Without him, you’re looking at Sal Stewart or maybe even JJ Bleday moving up. McLain being Day-To-Day means Juan Brito or Matt McLain—if he’s active—has to handle second base duties. It forces the manager to shuffle platoons. The Dodgers will absolutely exploit any platoon mismatch.
Brooke: Wait, did you say Sal Stewart? I thought he was primarily first base. Where does he slot in?
Tony: He can fill in, but it’s not his natural spot. It’s about finding flexibility. The real issue is the loss of production. Steer and McLain are key contributors. When you lose two everyday players, you lose chemistry. The hitters are trying new spots in the order, which disrupts their timing. Against Skubal or any other LA starter, timing is everything.
Brooke: And let’s not forget the impact on defense. Fewer experienced arms means more reliance on younger or lesser-known guys. What about Eugenio Suárez? He hit that three-run homer against Milwaukee to lift the Reds past them 4-3. Is he the anchor right now?
Tony: Suárez is crucial. That home run showed his power potential. But one homer doesn’t fix a lineup that’s missing Steer and McLain. Suárez needs support. If the top of the order—Elly De La Cruz, TJ Friedl, Hector Rodriguez—can’t get on base, Suárez becomes one-dimensional. And the Dodgers know how to pitch to power hitters when there’s no one behind them to fear.
Brooke: So, Elly De La Cruz. He’s the face of the franchise. He’s dynamic. But he’s also inconsistent. How does he fare against a Dodgers pitching staff that’s so disciplined?
Tony: This is the big question. Elly thrives on chaos. The Dodgers bring structure. Skubal is a master of command. He won’t walk Elly easily. He’ll try to keep the ball inside, take away the pull side, and force Elly to make adjustments. If Elly stays patient, he can win. If he chases sliders low and away, he’ll struggle. It’s a test of his plate discipline, which has been a work in progress all year.
Brooke: Plate discipline. That’s the keyword. Tony, earlier you mentioned the ABS challenge system. Does that affect how pitchers approach batters like Elly?
Tony: The ABS system is still relatively new, but pitchers are adapting. They’re aware of the challenges. It might make them slightly more cautious with borderline pitches, which could actually help Elly if he’s willing to draw a walk. But generally, the skill gap between LA and CIN is too wide for minor rule tweaks to bridge completely.
Brooke: Fair point. Let’s look at the broader picture. The Dodgers are 90-59. First in the NL West. The Reds are 70-80. Fifth in the NL Central. This feels like a mismatch on paper. But we saw the Reds beat Milwaukee recently. Can they replicate that energy?
Tony: Replicating energy is easy. Replicating execution is hard. Milwaukee is a good team, but they’re not LA. The Dodgers have depth. Even if their ace struggles, they have multiple starters who can go six innings. The Reds have to be perfect. One bad inning, and the game is over. That’s the reality of facing a contender in September.
Brooke: Okay, so what are the keys to the series for Cincinnati? If you’re the manager, what’s the playbook?
Tony: Key number one: Control the strike zone. Don’t chase. Make the Dodgers pitchers work. Key number two: Defense. Every ground ball matters. With a depleted roster, you can’t afford errors. Key number three: Use the speed game. Elly De La Cruz, TJ Friedl—they can create havoc on the bases. If they can steal bases or score on wild pitches, it puts pressure on the LA defense.
Brooke: Speed. Yes! That’s something LA might not expect. They’re used to power. Speed changes the geometry of the field. Do you think the Reds will lean into that?
Tony: They should. It’s their best weapon against a team that relies on overwhelming offensive firepower. If they can manufacture runs instead of relying on the long ball, they stay in games. But again, it requires discipline. And with injuries disrupting the lineup, discipline is hard to come by.
Brooke: Alright, Tony. Bold prediction time. We’re heading into Game Two tonight. The Reds lost Game One 4-1. The Dodgers are hot. The Reds are banged up. Where do you see this ending?
Tony: I’m going to stick with the trend. The Dodgers are too well-coached. I see LA winning Game Two, but it’s closer than the first one. Maybe 3-2. A bullpen battle. The Reds show fight, but ultimately, the experience gap wins out. They take two of the next three.
Brooke: A 3-2 Dodgers win. Tough pill to swallow for the Redbirds faithful, but realistic. We’ve got the full breakdown. We’ve talked pitching, injuries, and keys to victory. Now, before we wrap up, I want to take a quick moment to talk about you—the listeners.
Brooke: We know you love getting daily, deep-dive coverage without any ads interrupting your commute or paywalls blocking your access. That freedom exists only because of community support. If you believe in keeping this network free and daily, please chip in via the link in the episode description. It helps us keep the mic on and the analysis sharp.
Tony: Exactly. Your support directly fuels the research and the broadcast. Thank you for listening. Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you get your podcasts. Share this episode with a fellow Reds fan who needs a reality check—and a little hope.
Brooke: Tonight, we watch Elly De La Cruz face Tarik Skubal. Will the speed spark the upset, or will the Dodgers’ precision prevail? Tune in tonight at 10:40 PM ET on your local sports radio affiliates or stream live on the Beatline app. I’m Brooke.
Tony: And I’m Tony. Go Reds. Let’s see some hustle.