Los Angeles Dodgers vs Cincinnati Reds Picks and Prediction for Thursday, September 17, 2026

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds meet Thursday at Great American Ball Park, with the opening pitch scheduled for 12:40 PM ET and the game televised on MLB.TV. Los Angeles is 92-59, first in the NL West and 10 games ahead of San Diego, with 11 games remaining. Cincinnati is 70-81, fifth in the NL Central and 24 games behind Milwaukee, with 11 games left. The Reds have been eliminated from postseason contention. Los Angeles has won the first two games of this series, including Tuesday’s 4-0 victory, while Cincinnati has lost four of its last five. Build your bankroll with our free MLB picks.

Los Angeles Dodgers Finding Their Form on the Road

Los Angeles has responded to consecutive one-run losses in Miami by taking the first two games in Cincinnati. The Dodgers won 4-1 on Monday and followed with a 4-0 shutout Tuesday, allowing only one run across those contests. The offense is batting .255 with a .337 on-base percentage and .421 slugging percentage, producing 749 runs and 188 home runs. Freddie Freeman leads the regulars with a .296 average, while Shohei Ohtani has 30 homers, 80 RBI and a .902 OPS.

The Dodgers have also posted strong team pitching numbers, recording a 3.64 ERA and 1.16 WHIP while opponents are batting .219. Los Angeles has 1,398 strikeouts against 461 walks, and the staff’s ability to limit hits has helped the club build a double-digit division advantage. The fielding table also places Los Angeles fifth among MLB clubs. Andy Pages has added 21 home runs and 80 RBI, while Max Muncy has 28 homers and a .839 OPS to deepen the lineup.

Injuries: Dalton Rushing (10-day IL), Kris Bubic (60-day IL), Edwin Diaz (15-day IL), Gavin Stone (60-day IL), Jake Cousins (60-day IL).

Cincinnati Reds Searching for an Offensive Response

Cincinnati has struggled to produce runs over the past week. The Reds were outscored 33-12 during their last five games, including losses of 20-0 and 13-9 in Milwaukee before dropping the first two against Los Angeles. Tuesday’s shutout left Cincinnati with one run through the first two games of this series. The Reds are batting .229 with a .306 on-base percentage and .395 slugging percentage. Sal Stewart leads the club with 31 home runs and 107 RBI.

Elly De La Cruz remains Cincinnati’s most productive all-around hitter, batting .286 with a .363 on-base percentage, .516 slugging percentage, and 27 home runs. De La Cruz also has 26 stolen bases and 92 runs scored. The larger concern is Cincinnati’s pitching staff, which owns a 4.87 ERA and 1.44 WHIP while opponents are batting .254. The Reds have issued 624 walks and surrendered 200 home runs. Cincinnati also sits 28th on the MLB fielding table, adding another concern around a struggling pitching staff.

Injuries: Spencer Steer (10-day IL), Michael Toglia (60-day IL), Blake Dunn (60-day IL), Hunter Greene (60-day IL).

Pitching Matchup

Los Angeles Dodgers - Undecided

Los Angeles had not yet announced its starting pitcher at the time this preview was written.

Cincinnati Reds - Brady Singer

Brady Singer is 6-14 with a 5.38 ERA and 1.51 WHIP across 150.2 innings. The right-hander has allowed 172 hits, 30 home runs, and 56 walks while recording 125 strikeouts. Singer’s hit total and WHIP have made clean innings difficult to string together, and the home-run total is another notable part of his season. He has worked a substantial number of innings, but the 5.38 ERA reflects the trouble he has experienced limiting damage once opponents reach base.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs Cincinnati Reds Game Pick

• Los Angeles Dodgers

Los Angeles is the pick after holding Cincinnati to one run across the first two games of this series. The Dodgers own major advantages in team pitching, with a 3.64 ERA and 1.16 WHIP compared with Cincinnati’s 4.87 ERA and 1.44 WHIP. Los Angeles also has a .337 on-base percentage, while the Reds sit at .306. Singer has allowed 172 hits and 30 home runs in 150.2 innings, creating a difficult matchup against Ohtani, Freeman, Muncy, and the rest of the Dodgers lineup.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs Cincinnati Reds Over/Under Pick

• Over

The recent series scores have been low, but Over is the play Thursday. Singer has a 5.38 ERA and has surrendered 30 home runs, while Cincinnati’s pitching staff owns a 4.87 ERA with 200 homers allowed. Los Angeles has scored 749 runs with 188 home runs, and several Dodgers hitters have substantial extra-base power. Cincinnati has also hit 200 homers despite its low team batting average. Take the over to cash on Thursday.