The Los Angeles Dodgers hit the road Wednesday, September 16, for a 6:40 PM ET first pitch at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio. Blake Snell gets the ball for Los Angeles against Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott. With the regular season winding down, every game in September carries real weight in the standings, making this mid-week road matchup one the Dodgers need to take seriously as they finalize positioning heading into October.

Dodgers vs. Reds Pitching Matchup: Blake Snell vs. Andrew Abbott

All eyes start with Blake Snell on the mound for the Dodgers. Snell is one of the most electric starters in the game when he is locked in, bringing premium strikeout stuff and the kind of ceiling that can shut down any lineup on any given night. The Reds counter with Andrew Abbott, a left-hander who has shown the ability to generate weak contact and keep opposing offenses off-balance. This is a pitching matchup worth watching closely from the first pitch.

Cincinnati Reds Starting Lineup

• Dane Myers — CF
• Elly De La Cruz — SS
• Sal Stewart — 1B
• Tyler Stephenson — DH
• Eugenio Suárez — 3B
• Juan Brito — RF
• JJ Bleday — LF
• Jose Trevino — C
• Matt McLain — 2B

Keys to Watch for the Dodgers

Handling Elly De La Cruz

The most dangerous hitter in the Cincinnati order is Elly De La Cruz batting second. De La Cruz is a legitimate five-tool threat who can hurt a team with his bat, his legs, and his arm. Snell and the Dodgers defense need to be sharp and disciplined when he steps into the box. Walks to De La Cruz in particular can snowball fast given his speed on the bases.

Snell's Command and Pitch Count

Snell at his best is dominant, but pitch efficiency has been a factor throughout his career. If he can attack the Reds lineup early in counts and keep his walk total manageable, the Dodgers bullpen gets a night to breathe. If he struggles to find the zone, a Cincinnati lineup that also features Tyler Stephenson and Eugenio Suárez has the lineup depth to make him pay.

Dodgers Offense vs. a Left-Handed Starter

Abbott pitching left-handed could factor into how the Dodgers construct their lineup on the road. Los Angeles will need to be patient and look for pitches to drive, particularly in the middle innings when the game is likely to be decided. Crooked numbers early against Abbott would put this one away in a hurry.

Prediction

This shapes up as a pitcher's duel with legitimate upside on both sides. Snell has the stuff to dominate a lineup like Cincinnati's, and Abbott is not a pushover. Give the edge to the Dodgers if Snell is efficient and the offense can scratch across runs in the middle of the game. Los Angeles takes this one by a slim margin, 3–1.

Catch the game on SportsNet LA on TV or on Dodgers Radio AM570. Spanish-language coverage is available on KTNQ 1020.