The Los Angeles Dodgers head to Cincinnati for a Thursday afternoon matchup against the Reds at Great American Ball Park, with first pitch scheduled for 12:40 PM ET on September 17, 2026. Justin Wrobleski gets the nod for Los Angeles, squaring off against Brady Singer for Cincinnati. With the regular season winding down into its final weeks, every game carries weight for a Dodgers club looking to position itself for October. This one is a day game on the road, the kind of quiet September contest that can sneak up on a team if they're not locked in from the jump.
Starting Pitchers: Wrobleski vs. Singer
Justin Wrobleski draws the start for the Dodgers. The left-hander has worked his way into Los Angeles's rotation and will need to control the strike zone against a Reds lineup that can make pitchers pay for mistakes at hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park. The park's short dimensions in left-center have humbled plenty of visiting arms over the years, and Wrobleski will need to work efficiently and keep the ball in the park to give the Dodgers a chance to win this one.
Brady Singer takes the hill for Cincinnati. Singer is a strike-thrower by nature, and the Dodgers' lineup will need to be patient and work counts if they want to do damage against him. Los Angeles has enough offensive firepower to get to any starter if the at-bats are quality ones.
Keys to Watch for the Dodgers
- Wrobleski's command: Great American Ball Park rewards mistakes. Keeping the ball down and avoiding walks will be the top priority for the young starter.
- Offense against Singer: Singer can pile up strikeouts when he's on. The Dodgers need to grind out at-bats, work deep into counts, and make him throw pitches.
- Bullpen management: With the rotation being stretched late in the regular season, how the Dodgers handle the back end of this game matters. Every arm counts heading into September's final push.
- Situational hitting: Day games on the road in September can produce slow offensive starts. Getting runners in from scoring position early will set the tone.
Prediction
This is a tricky spot. A road day game against a capable starter like Singer, with a young arm in Wrobleski carrying the load for Los Angeles — it is not a layup. But the Dodgers have the lineup depth to manufacture runs even on difficult days, and if Wrobleski can get through five or six innings with the lead intact, this game is winnable. Give the edge to Los Angeles, 5-3, if the offense gets to Singer in the middle innings and the bullpen holds the line late.
Catch the game on SportsNet LA or Dodgers Radio AM570. Spanish-language coverage is available on KTNQ 1020.
