Cincinnati Reds vs Dodgers Prediction, Odds & Picks Today in 2026
The Cincinnati Reds vs Dodgers series continues Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at Dodger Stadium with Los Angeles holding a 1-0 series lead. The Dodgers opened the three game set with a 6-3 victory on Monday, extending their winning streak to five games.
Los Angeles enters Tuesday’s matchup with an 87-57 record, while Cincinnati is 69-75. The pitching matchup is one of the biggest storylines, with Dodgers left hander Tarik Skubal scheduled to face Reds left hander Nick Lodolo. Skubal enters with an 8-7 record and 2.86 ERA, while Lodolo is 3-3 with a 5.08 ERA.
Monday’s opener provided plenty of context for this matchup. Teoscar Hernández hit a three run home run, Emmet Sheehan struck out 10, and Los Angeles won despite collecting only three hits. Shohei Ohtani also returned to the lineup after a four game absence.
Cincinnati Reds vs Dodgers Prediction
Prediction: Dodgers to win.
Los Angeles has the clear statistical advantage entering Tuesday’s game. The Dodgers have home field advantage, a stronger overall record and a significant starting pitching edge with Tarik Skubal on the mound.
Skubal owns a 2.86 ERA entering the matchup, compared with Lodolo’s 5.08 ERA. The Dodgers are also coming off five consecutive victories and have already taken the opening game of this series.
The Reds should not be dismissed, though. Cincinnati showed its power in Monday’s loss, with Elly De La Cruz and Eugenio Suárez both hitting home runs. De La Cruz has homered in three consecutive games and entered Tuesday with 24 home runs this season.
Still, the combination of Skubal, home field and Los Angeles’ recent form makes the Dodgers the stronger side.
Reds vs Dodgers Odds Today
Current odds listed for Tuesday’s game make Los Angeles a substantial favorite.
| Market | Current Line |
|---|---|
| Dodgers Moneyline | -335 |
| Reds Moneyline | +270 |
| Dodgers Run Line | -1.5 (-150) |
| Reds Run Line | +1.5 (+125) |
| Over/Under | 8.5 |
| Over | +100 |
| Under | -122 |
These lines were reported by FanDuel Research early Tuesday and can move before first pitch.
The Dodgers’ -335 moneyline indicates how strongly the market favors Los Angeles. The bigger question for bettors is whether that price offers enough value or whether the run line or total provides a better angle.
Who Are the Starting Pitchers?
Tarik Skubal, Dodgers
Tarik Skubal is scheduled to start for Los Angeles. He enters Tuesday at 8-7 with a 2.86 ERA.
His presence gives the Dodgers a major advantage because Cincinnati must deal with one of Los Angeles’ strongest starting options. The Dodgers also have a capable bullpen behind him, giving manager Dave Roberts multiple ways to protect a lead.
sourecs: sports.betmgm.com
Nick Lodolo, Reds
Nick Lodolo gets the start for Cincinnati. He enters at 3-3 with a 5.08 ERA.
Lodolo will need to keep Los Angeles from producing early traffic and limit the Dodgers’ ability to turn walks and baserunners into big innings.
The pitching matchup strongly favors Los Angeles on paper.
What Happened in Monday’s Reds vs Dodgers Game?
The Dodgers won the series opener 6-3 on September 7.
Teoscar Hernández supplied the biggest offensive moment with a three run homer in the sixth inning. Emmet Sheehan also delivered an impressive return to the majors, striking out 10 over 5 2/3 innings while allowing one run and three hits.
Cincinnati actually outhit Los Angeles 7-3 but still lost.
The Reds scored first when Elly De La Cruz hit a solo home run in the first inning. Eugenio Suárez later added another solo homer. However, Los Angeles took control after Cincinnati committed a costly throwing error in the fifth inning.
Sheehan then escaped a bases loaded threat in the sixth before Hernández’s three run blast gave the Dodgers a 5-1 advantage.
Evan Phillips closed the game with a perfect ninth inning and recorded his first save of the season.
Reds vs Dodgers Key Players to Watch
Teoscar Hernández
Hernández is one of the most important offensive players to watch after his three run home run Monday.
His homer accounted for half of Los Angeles’ six runs and provided the decisive offensive swing in the opener.
Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani returned to the Dodgers lineup Monday after missing four games while dealing with multiple injuries.
He went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and a walk in the opener. Ohtani’s availability and offensive production remain important storylines for Los Angeles as the regular season approaches its final weeks.
Elly De La Cruz
De La Cruz remains Cincinnati’s biggest power threat. He hit a solo home run Monday and has now homered in three straight games.
His 24 home runs put him one away from matching his own club record for switch hitters, set in 2024.
Eugenio Suárez
Suárez also homered in the series opener, giving the Reds another dangerous power bat in the lineup.
Cincinnati may need another big performance from its middle of the order if it wants to overcome Skubal and the Dodgers bullpen.
Reds vs Dodgers Player Stats From Monday
| Player | Key Performance |
|---|---|
| Teoscar Hernández | Three run home run |
| Emmet Sheehan | 5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 10 K |
| Shohei Ohtani | 0-for-3, 2 K, 1 BB |
| Elly De La Cruz | Solo home run |
| Eugenio Suárez | Solo home run |
| Evan Phillips | 1 IP, 0 ER, 2 K, save |
| Chase Burns | 3 scoreless innings, 5 K |
| Brandon Williamson | 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 4 K |
The Dodgers scored six runs on only three hits, while Cincinnati recorded seven hits.
What Is the Best Betting Angle?
The Dodgers moneyline is the simplest side based on the available matchup data, but the -335 price is expensive.
For bettors looking for a more aggressive option, the Dodgers -1.5 run line offers a higher payout. The main argument for Los Angeles is the starting pitching matchup, home field and recent form.
The total is set at 8.5 runs, with the Over at +100 and Under at -122 in the FanDuel odds available Tuesday morning.
The Under has some appeal because Skubal owns a 2.86 ERA, but Cincinnati’s power hitters have already demonstrated that they can create runs against Los Angeles.
Reds vs Dodgers Betting Trends
The Dodgers enter the game after winning five straight.
They also took the opening game of this seven game stretch between the teams. The clubs are scheduled to meet seven times over an 11 day period, beginning with three games at Dodger Stadium before a four game series in Cincinnati.
One interesting betting statistic concerns Skubal. FanDuel reported that the Dodgers were 12-9 when Skubal started and were favored on the moneyline. Cincinnati was 6-6 in games started by Lodolo when the Reds entered as moneyline underdogs.
These records should be treated as supporting information rather than a standalone betting system.
Reds vs Dodgers Today: Game Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | Tuesday, September 8, 2026 |
| Location | Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles |
| Teams | Cincinnati Reds vs Los Angeles Dodgers |
| First Pitch | 10:10 p.m. ET |
| Dodgers Record | 87-57 |
| Reds Record | 69-75 |
| Dodgers Starter | Tarik Skubal |
| Reds Starter | Nick Lodolo |
| Series Score | Dodgers lead 1-0 |
| TV | SportsNet LA, Reds.TV |
The game is scheduled for 10:10 p.m. ET at Dodger Stadium.
Cincinnati Reds vs Dodgers Live
For live updates, score changes and in game statistics, ESPN’s game page provides live coverage of the September 8 matchup.
You can follow:
- Live score
- Innings and game status
- Pitching changes
- Player statistics
- Runs and hits
- Game highlights
- Updated betting information
The live game becomes especially important for bettors because starting pitcher performance, bullpen usage and lineup changes can quickly change the outlook.
What Should You Watch for in the Reds Dodgers Matchup?
There are three major factors to monitor.
First, watch Tarik Skubal. If he controls Cincinnati’s power hitters early, the Dodgers should have an excellent chance to protect their lead in the series.
Second, watch the Reds’ power. De La Cruz and Suárez both homered Monday, proving Cincinnati can score without generating a large number of hits.
Third, watch Los Angeles’ offense. The Dodgers scored six runs with only three hits in the opener. That unusual combination came partly from timely hitting, walks, and a key Cincinnati error. Repeating that formula against Lodolo will be difficult, so Los Angeles may need more conventional offensive production Tuesday.
Final Cincinnati Reds vs Dodgers Prediction
The Dodgers are the better team on paper for Tuesday’s matchup, and Tarik Skubal gives Los Angeles the clearest advantage.
Cincinnati has enough power to make this competitive, especially with Elly De La Cruz and Eugenio Suárez coming off home runs. However, the Dodgers’ home field, five game winning streak, stronger record and superior starting pitching matchup make Los Angeles the logical pick.
Final prediction: Los Angeles Dodgers to win.
For bettors, the moneyline provides the clearest path, although the -335 price means there is limited value at such a steep number. The run line may be more attractive for bettors willing to accept additional risk, while the 8.5 run total deserves attention because Cincinnati has already shown it can generate power against Los Angeles.
As always, check the latest line, confirmed lineups and injury news before placing a wager because MLB markets can change before first pitch.
