MLB Game Preview: Cincinnati Reds (68-65) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (76-57)

Game Details

First Pitch begins at 8:40 p.m. ET from Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. Broadcast on SportsNet LA, FDSOH and MLB Network.

Pitching Matchup

Ohtani makes his 11th start seeking his first win, carrying a 4.61 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 35 strikeouts in 27⅓ innings. Lodolo brings an 8–6 mark and a 3.05 ERA into his 23rd start, aiming to snap a two-game skid in quality outings.

Key Storylines

• The Dodgers claimed Monday’s opener, 7–0, behind Emmet Sheehan’s gem (7 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 10 K) and Andy Pages’s two-homer, four-RBI night.
• Los Angeles holds a 1–0 edge in this three-game series and leads the season series 4–1 overall.
• With their NL West lead at stake, the Dodgers seek back-to-back wins to extend a five-game home winning streak, while the Reds look to halt a two-game slide and improve their road form.

Players to Watch

• Shohei Ohtani (LAD): Second in MLB with 45 homers and 84 RBIs, Ohtani’s power swing and rising strikeout rate (11.5 K/9) make him a dual-threat on the bump and at the plate.
• Freddie Freeman (LAD): Slashing .302/.389/.508 with 34 doubles, one triple, 18 homers and 75 RBIs, Freeman anchors the middle of the order.
• Elly De La Cruz (CIN): Delivering 26 doubles, five triples, 19 homers and a .273 batting average, De La Cruz’s blend of power and speed poses matchup nightmares for opposing hurlers.
• Nick Lodolo (CIN): His 3.05 ERA ranks among the Reds’ best, but Lodolo must sharpen his command after allowing four or more runs in three of his last five starts.

Betting Outlook

• Dodgers games have gone over in 64 of 132 chances, Reds in 63 of 131.
• The Dodgers are 27–11 when favored by at least –208 this season and 56–76-0 ATS, while the Reds have won 36 of 71 contests as underdogs and have yet to prevail at +174 or longer.

Expect the Dodgers to break through early against Lodolo, with Ohtani earning his first win of 2025. Los Angeles’s relentless power attack should overcome a resilient Reds effort.