Sports Today Wednesday, September 9
← Back to today’s slate MLB matchup · September 9, 2026
Cincinnati Reds
69-76 · 5th in NL Central, 20.5 GB
Bats heating up
RHP Rhett Lowder · Pitches to contact
@
Los Angeles Dodgers
88-57 · 1st in NL West
Offense cooling lately
RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto · High-strikeout arm · plus control
MLB · UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium, hits run 7% below average here · 7:10 PM PT

Team Identity

Cincinnati Reds
Season-to-date, 145 games, 5,638 PA.
A patient offense that works counts and draws walks, though it can be inconsistent with runners in scoring position. The bats have been heating up lately.
Power
Average62
Contact
Well Below7
Plate Discipline
Above Avg70
Speed
Average58
RISP
Well Below7
Recent Form
Trending Up
Total bases per PA is up 17% over the team's last 10 games versus its season baseline.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Season-to-date, 145 games, 5,689 PA.
A contact-oriented, patient offense that puts the ball in play and avoids empty at-bats, though it can be station-to-station. The offense has cooled off recently.
Power
Above Avg78
Contact
Elite93
Plate Discipline
Elite91
Speed
Below Avg28
RISP
Elite91
Recent Form
Trending Down
Total bases per PA is down 18% over the team's last 10 games versus its season baseline.

What This Game Is About

Biggest Advantage

Dodgers bring the more contact-oriented profile, while Reds lean on being patient.

Swing Factor

Rhett Lowder strikes hitters out at a 16.9% clip (19th percentile); Dodgers carry a 20.0% strikeout rate.

Momentum

Reds are trending up and Dodgers are trending down over their last 10 games.

Key Matchups

Can Rhett Lowder miss enough bats?
Rhett Lowder strikes hitters out at a 16.9% clip (19th percentile); Dodgers carry a 20.0% strikeout rate.
Edge · DodgersRhett Lowder: 16.9% K rateDodgers: 20.0% K rateHigh confidence
Can Yoshinobu Yamamoto miss enough bats?
Yoshinobu Yamamoto strikes hitters out at a 25.0% clip (76th percentile); Reds carry a 24.4% strikeout rate.
Edge · Yoshinobu YamamotoYoshinobu Yamamoto: 25.0% K rateReds: 24.4% K rateHigh confidence
Can Rhett Lowder limit Dodgers' power?
Dodgers rank in the 78th percentile in extra-base production, while Rhett Lowder sits in the 22nd percentile at suppressing total bases.
Edge · DodgersDodgers: 0.359 TB/PARhett Lowder: 0.387 TB/PA allowed (532 PA)High confidence
Can Rhett Lowder command the strike zone?
Dodgers walk in 9.7% of trips; Rhett Lowder allows walks at a fairly typical rate (8.8%).
Edge · DodgersDodgers: 9.7% walk rateRhett Lowder: 8.8% walks allowedHigh confidence
Can Yoshinobu Yamamoto command the strike zone?
Reds walk in 9.2% of trips; Yoshinobu Yamamoto allows walks sparingly (5.9%).
Edge · Yoshinobu YamamotoReds: 9.2% walk rateYoshinobu Yamamoto: 5.9% walks allowedHigh confidence

Pitcher Trends

Rhett Lowder
Rhett Lowder
Cincinnati Reds · 8 starts
SP
Strikeouts3.6/start
Hits allowed5.4/start
6+ Hits Allowed — 5 of last 65 or fewer Strikeouts — 6 of last 6
17% K rate
Per-start form only — opponent lineup, park, and pitch count aren't modeled.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Los Angeles Dodgers · 8 starts
SP
Strikeouts6.9/start
Hits allowed4.2/start
8+ Strikeouts — 4 of last 65 or fewer Hits Allowed — 6 of last 6
25% K rate
Per-start form only — opponent lineup, park, and pitch count aren't modeled.

Player Trends

Elly De La Cruz
Elly De La Cruz
Cincinnati Reds · 0.386 hit rate · 0.727 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L55 / 5L109 / 10L2518 / 257-game hit streak
Total bases per PA is up 79% over his prior baseline, with hits in 9 of his last 10 games.
Teoscar Hernandez
Teoscar Hernandez
Los Angeles Dodgers · 0.348 hit rate · 0.587 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L55 / 5L109 / 10L2519 / 259-game hit streak
Total bases per PA is up 70% over his prior baseline, with hits in 9 of his last 10 games. He has trimmed his strikeout rate to 17%.
Eugenio Suarez
Eugenio Suarez
Cincinnati Reds · 0.182 hit rate · 0.485 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L53 / 5L106 / 10L2513 / 25
Total bases per PA is up 41% over his prior baseline, with hits in 5 of his last 8 games. He has trimmed his strikeout rate to 24%.
Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani
Los Angeles Dodgers · 0.083 hit rate · 0.083 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L52 / 5L104 / 10L2513 / 25
Total bases per PA is down 81% over his prior baseline, with hits in 2 of his last 5 games. His strikeout rate has climbed to 38%.
Edwin Arroyo
Edwin Arroyo
Cincinnati Reds · 0.050 hit rate · 0.100 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L51 / 5L103 / 10L2513 / 25
Hit rate is down 77% over his prior baseline, with hits in 1 of his last 6 games. His strikeout rate has climbed to 35%.
Jose Trevino
Jose Trevino
Cincinnati Reds · 0.118 hit rate · 0.118 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L53 / 5L105 / 10L2512 / 25
Total bases per PA is down 68% over his prior baseline, with hits in 2 of his last 4 games. His strikeout rate has climbed to 24%.

Players Positioned to Succeed

83
Teoscar Hernandez
Teoscar Hernandez
1+ Hit
Los Angeles Dodgers
Why it stands out
Recent contact results are improving
Main risk
Lineup not yet posted
80
Elly De La Cruz
Elly De La Cruz
1+ Hit
Cincinnati Reds
Why it stands out
Recent contact results are improving
Main risk
Lineup not yet posted
74
Nathaniel Lowe
Nathaniel Lowe
1+ Hit
Cincinnati Reds
Why it stands out
Low recent strikeout rate
Main risk
Lineup not yet posted
74
Tommy Edman
Tommy Edman
1+ Hit
Los Angeles Dodgers
Why it stands out
Strong recent plate-appearance volume
Main risk
Lineup not yet posted
74
Mookie Betts
Mookie Betts
1+ Hit
Los Angeles Dodgers
Why it stands out
Strong recent plate-appearance volume
Main risk
Lineup not yet posted
70
Hector Rodriguez
Hector Rodriguez
1+ Hit
Cincinnati Reds
Why it stands out
Recent form supports the pick
Main risk
Elevated recent strikeout rate

Expected Game Shape

Power-orientedModerate confidence

Both lineups can change the game with one swing. Reds bring stronger recent momentum. Dodgers bring more power.

Early edge Dodgers Driver Extra-base damage Volatility Elevated
  • Both probable starters grade around the 53rd percentile in combined suppression.
  • Reds are trending up; Dodgers are trending down.

Storylines to Watch

Can Reds handle Yoshinobu Yamamoto's strikeout stuff?
Reds have been a below-average contact team while Yoshinobu Yamamoto misses bats at an above-average rate — a swing factor early.
Reds contact percentile: 7
Is Elly De La Cruz the one to watch?
Elly De La Cruz enters as Reds' hottest bat. Total bases per PA is up 79% over his prior baseline, with hits in 9 of his last 10 games.
0.386 hit rate · 0.727 TB/PA · 0.229 hit rate · 0.406 TB/PA
Can Shohei Ohtani snap out of it?
Shohei Ohtani has cooled off. Total bases per PA is down 81% over his prior baseline, with hits in 2 of his last 5 games. His strikeout rate has climbed to 38%.
0.083 hit rate · 0.083 TB/PA · 0.233 hit rate · 0.442 TB/PA
Based on plate appearances before 2026-09-09, with today's posted lineups when available. Injuries, weather, bullpen availability, and park factors are not yet included.