Brooke: The Reds are down zero-four-one in this series, they are staring at a sweep against the most dominant team in baseball, and their entire rotation is basically a ghost town. But tonight? It’s Game Three. And if you think this is just another routine loss, you haven’t been paying attention to what Terry Francona is trying to salvage here.
Tony: It’s definitely not routine. We talked about the pitching matchups yesterday, and frankly, the depth chart looks terrifying right now with half the staff on IL. But that’s why we’re here. To break down exactly how Cincinnati tries to stop the bleeding against a Dodgers team that just clinched its fourteenth straight playoff berth.
Brooke: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network, I’m Brooke, alongside Tony Santillan—yes, the reliever himself, though today he’s just bringing the analyst brain. If you missed our preview of Game Two where we predicted a close bullpen battle, well, Tarik Skubal turned it into a shutout clinic. Today, we’re looking at Game Three. Here is what we are covering: first, who actually takes the mound for Cincinnati when the starters are gone; second, how Elly De La Cruz and the lineup cope without Spencer Steer and Michael Toglia; and third, whether there is any realistic path to avoid the sweep.
Tony: Right. And let’s be clear about the context. The Dodgers secured that berth on Monday night behind Skubal’s seven scoreless innings. They are playing for pride and positioning now, but they are still the best team in the game. The Reds are 70-81, fifth in the NL Central, and coming off a 4-0 loss where Yoshinobu Yamamoto allowed just one hit through seven. So the bar is high. Very high.
Brooke: Let’s start with the big question: Who pitches for the Reds tonight? Yesterday we saw Andrew Abbott get shelled or at least out-pitched by the Dodgers' offense. Looking at the roster, we have Brady Singer, Rhett Lowder, Chase Burns, Nick Lodolo, and Brandon Williamson left in the mix. Who is the logical choice?
Tony: Logical is a strong word here. When you look at the injury report, Hunter Greene, Kris Bubic, Gavin Stone, and Jake Cousins are all on the 60-Day IL. That leaves us with very thin options. I’d argue Brady Singer makes the most sense simply because he’s a starter and has some experience. He’s got the ground-ball stuff that might keep the ball on the deck against a Dodgers lineup that loves the fly ball.
Brooke: But does he have the stamina? We know the bullpen is stressed. Tejay Antone, Graham Ashcraft, Brock Burke, Pierce Johnson, Julian Garcia, Luis Mey, Emilio Pagan—they are all holding the line. If Singer goes three innings, who comes in next? That’s the nightmare scenario for Francona.
Tony: Exactly. You’re going to see a heavy reliance on the long man role. Maybe Tony Santillan, given his name is on the roster, gets stretched out as an opener or a bridge. Or maybe they go with Rhett Lowder. He’s young, he’s got upside, but he’s also inexperienced in high-leverage spots like this. It’s a gamble. The Dodgers are hitting .300+ against lefties in some stretches, so if Singer is lefty, that’s bad news.
Brooke: And let’s not forget, the Dodgers have Kyle Tucker and Teoscar Hernandez. Those guys are going to be looking for extra-base hits. If Cincinnati can’t get early outs, the bullpen blows up in the first hour. Do you think Francona tries to ride a reliever for five innings to save the rest of the day?
Tony: He might. With the ABS challenge system tracker showing teams pushing limits on pitch counts and efficiency, managers are more willing to pull starters early if they’re struggling. Skubal had seven shutout innings Monday, but he’s not pitching again for a few days. Tonight, it’s about damage control. I expect Cincinnati to try to keep it within two runs heading into the sixth, then unleash the chaos.
Brooke: Chaos it is. Alright, stick with us. Because once we talk about who is pitching, we have to talk about who is hitting—and who is missing from the field entirely. More after this.
Brooke: We are back. Let’s talk lineup. The Reds are missing Spencer Steer on the 10-Day IL, Michael Toglia on the 60-Day IL, Blake Dunn on the 60-Day IL, Dalton Rushing on the 10-Day IL, Edwin Diaz on the 15-Day IL, and obviously the pitchers we just discussed. That is a lot of talent gone. How does the offense adapt?
Tony: It’s brutal. You lose Steer and Toglia, you lose power. You lose Rushing, you lose defensive versatility and contact skills. The remaining hitters have to carry the load. Elly De La Cruz is the centerpiece. He’s the only guy who can change the game with speed and raw power. But he needs protection. Matt McLain is back, which helps, but Sal Stewart at first base? JJ Bleday in left? They are good players, but they aren’t generating the same volume of offense as the full-strength lineup.
Brooke: Elly is incredible, but even he can’t do it alone. Tyler Stephenson is catching, and he’s solid defensively, but his bat has been quiet lately. What about Eugenio Suarez at DH? He’s the veteran presence. Can he drive in runs against a Dodgers bullpen that is still sharp despite the win?
Tony: Suarez is key. He knows how to work the count. His OBP is crucial in these tight games. But the issue is platoon splits. The Dodgers will likely bring in a left-handed specialist if Suarez is batting lefty. And if the Reds are facing a lefty pitcher, their options are limited. Jose Trevino behind the plate offers great defense, but offensively, he’s not going to beat you.
Brooke: So, small ball? Stolen bases? Ke'Bryan Hayes at third is elite defensively, but does he have the pop? And TJ Friedl in center field—he’s fast. Is that the plan? Try to bunt, steal, and hope a home run falls in?
Tony: Maybe. But against the Dodgers, who have elite range in the outfield, stealing bases is risky. Their catcher, Will Banfield, is decent, but the Dodgers’ pitching staff is generally disciplined. If the Reds swing at bad pitches, they strike out. The focus should be on plate discipline. Wait for the mistake. Especially against someone like Yamamoto, who throws strikes. If you chase, you lose.
Brooke: Yamamoto was dominant Tuesday, allowing only one hit. But tonight, it’s a new pitcher. Still, the mindset has to be patience. And that brings us to the support appeal. If you’ve enjoyed our deep dive into the Reds' injury impacts and pitching strategies, please consider supporting the show. We work hard to bring you this daily coverage, and your contributions help keep the podcast free for everyone. Just click the link in the episode description to chip in. Every bit helps us keep breaking down these critical moments for the fanbase.
Brooke: Thanks for listening. Now, let’s get to the bold prediction. We predicted the Dodgers would take two of the last three earlier in the series. They did. Game Two went 4-0. Game One was 4-1. So, what happens tonight? The Reds are 70-81. The Dodgers are locked into the playoffs. Why would Cincinnati care?
Tony: Pride. And development. These young guys, Lowder, Burns, maybe even some call-ups, need reps. Francona said he’s encouraged by reports of leadership returning. He wants to send a message. But realistically? The Dodgers are too talented. Even with a weakened Reds lineup, LA’s depth is overwhelming. Kyle Tucker, Teoscar Hernandez, Mookie Betts—they will exploit any weakness.
Brooke: So you’re saying another loss?
Tony: I’m saying a narrow loss. I think the Reds show fight. They get a couple of runs off the Dodgers’ starter, maybe Elly De La Cruz hits a solo shot to keep it interesting. But by the seventh inning, the Dodgers’ bullpen shuts them down. Final score: Dodgers 5, Reds 3. It’s not pretty, but it’s a competitive game until the end.
Brooke: A 5-3 loss. Tough pill to swallow. But hey, at least they didn’t get swept by a shutout! For the fans watching, what’s your takeaway? Is this season lost, or is there value in these final weeks?
Tony: There’s always value. Seeing how the kids handle pressure is huge for 2027. But yeah, the record says 70-81. It’s over. But the future? That’s still bright. Especially if Elly stays healthy.
Brooke: That’s it for today’s preview. We covered the pitching quandary, the injury-riddled lineup, and predicted a gritty but ultimately unsuccessful effort against the Dodgers. Thank you for listening to the Beatline Podcast Network. Please subscribe, rate, and review us wherever you get your podcasts. Share this episode with a fellow Reds fan who needs a reality check—or a boost of hope!
Tony: Great discussion, Brooke. Remember, stay tuned for our post-game recap tomorrow. We’ll see how the Reds handled the pressure.
Brooke: Go Reds! And go Beatline!