The Los Angeles Dodgers host the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium, with first pitch scheduled for 10:10 PM ET. Tarik Skubal gets the ball for Los Angeles against Cincinnati left-hander Nick Lodolo in a regular season matchup that carries late-September weight. With the calendar pushing toward the final weeks of the season, every game in the standings matters, and the Dodgers will be looking to protect home ground in front of their fans in Chavez Ravine.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Skubal vs. Lodolo
Tarik Skubal draws the start for the Dodgers. The left-hander has been one of the most discussed arms in the game in recent seasons, and his presence at the top of a rotation gives any ballclub a legitimate anchor. What he does in this start — how deep he works into the game, how he commands the strike zone — will set the tone for the entire evening at Dodger Stadium.
Nick Lodolo takes the hill for Cincinnati. The tall lefty has the stuff to keep any lineup honest, working with a fastball-curveball combination that can be difficult to square up when his command is on. The Dodgers will need to be disciplined early and look to work counts against him rather than surrendering easy outs in hitter-friendly counts.
Keys to Watch for the Dodgers
- Skubal's pitch efficiency: If Skubal can work deep into the game and limit Cincinnati's ability to turn the lineup over multiple times, the Dodgers bullpen gets a much-needed breather in a stretch run situation.
- Attacking Lodolo early in counts: Left-handed starters can give Los Angeles fits if the lineup becomes passive. The Dodgers need to be aggressive when Lodolo falls behind, particularly with runners on base.
- Capitalizing at home: UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium remains one of the better hitting environments in the National League. The Dodgers need to take advantage of familiar surroundings and turn home-field into a tangible edge.
- Bullpen management: Depending on how Skubal's night unfolds, Dave Roberts will face real decisions in the middle innings. Matching up correctly against Cincinnati's lineup late could be the difference in a close game.
Prediction
This is a matchup worth watching from a pitching standpoint. Skubal against Lodolo sets up as a game where run-scoring could be at a premium early. Give the edge to the Dodgers at home. Los Angeles has the lineup depth to eventually break through against a left-handed starter, and if Skubal is sharp, Cincinnati will have a difficult time keeping pace. Dodgers win, 4-2.
Catch the game on SportsNet LA on television, or listen on Dodgers Radio AM570 in English and KTNQ 1020 in Spanish.
