Reds vs Dodgers Tonight: Live Stream, Key Matchups, Score Updates & Must-See Highlights

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds renew hostilities at Dodger Stadium today in Game 2 of their three-game September set, with first pitch scheduled for 10:10 a.m. PT. Los Angeles seized the opener 6-3 behind a balanced attack that stretched its winning streak to five and gave the NL West leaders an 87-57 record, while Cincinnati slipped to 69-75 and remains 19.5 games back in the NL Central race. Probable pitchers • Dodgers LHP Tarik Skubal (8-7, 2.86 ERA, 0.98 WHIP) makes his first career start against the Reds and looks to extend an impressive run of three consecutive quality outings. • Reds LHP Nick Lodolo (3-3, 5.08 ERA) returns from the IL for just his 10th start of 2026, hoping to steady a Cincinnati rotation that owns a 4.68 ERA on the season. Key storylines 1. Shohei Ohtani’s power push: The two-way superstar paces L.A. with 30 homers and 80 RBI, and his left-on-left matchup with Lodolo headlines a right-dominant Dodger order that already ranks second in the NL in runs scored. 2. Reds’ rookie surge: First baseman Sal Stewart (31 HR) and shortstop Elly De La Cruz (.281 AVG) have been bright spots for a lineup that sits 11th in the league in OPS but has slugged 192 long balls, eight more than the Dodgers. 3. Playoff math: L.A. begins the day 10.5 games clear of Arizona in the West and is tracking toward home-field advantage in the NLCS. Cincinnati, meanwhile, is five games out of the final Wild Card spot with 18 to play; any slip-up could virtually end its postseason hopes. Matchup trends • The Dodgers are 45-28 at home, out-homering visitors 95-66 in Chavez Ravine. • Cincinnati is 33-37 on the road but has taken three of its last four series away from Great American Ball Park. • Los Angeles owns a +100 run differential in night games, while the Reds are –57. What to watch • Can Lodolo command his curveball early? His 1.52 WHIP suggests traffic, and the Dodger lineup leads MLB in walk rate since the All-Star break. • Leadoff chess match: Freddie Freeman (.301) versus De La Cruz’s switch-hit speed (25 SB) will set each club’s offensive tone. • Bullpen edge: The Dodgers’ relief corps sports a 3.71 ERA; Cincinnati’s sits at 4.68, making late-inning insurance runs critical for the underdogs. Bottom line A healthy Ohtani, an in-form Skubal, and the postseason stakes give Los Angeles a clear edge, but Cincinnati’s young sluggers have the pop to flip momentum with one swing. Expect another high-leverage clash that keeps “Reds vs Dodgers” atop the MLB search charts all week long.