First pitch 7:15 p.m. ET
Venue: Truist Park, Atlanta, Georgia
This is the series finale. The Reds took the opener 4-0 on Tuesday (Brandon Williamson’s strong outing and Elly De La Cruz power/speed), but the Braves evened it with a 3-2 walk-off win in 10 innings on Wednesday (Chris Sale reached 200 strikeouts; Matt Olson and Austin Riley homered; Mauricio Dubón’s RBI single sealed it). The Braves have clinched the NL East and are playing for seeding/momentum ahead of the postseason. The Reds are last in the NL Central and playing out the string.
Starting Pitchers
Reds: RHP Brady Singer (6-15, 5.67 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 125 K in 154.0 IP over 30 starts). Singer has struggled significantly this season with high walk and home-run rates, especially in recent outings.
Braves: RHP Tyler Mahle (7-10 overall, 3.81 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 133 K in 144.0 IP). Acquired at the trade deadline from San Francisco, Mahle has been outstanding with Atlanta (4-1, 1.28 ERA in eight starts since joining). He has limited hard contact and thrown strikes consistently.
Mahle holds a clear advantage in form, ERA, control, and recent performance. Singer’s high ERA and struggles make this a favorable matchup for Atlanta.
Current Weather Forecast (Truist Park)
Partly sunny to mostly cloudy, high near 71-74°F with east winds 10-15 mph. Partly cloudy overnight with lows around 59-60°F. Dry conditions expected (very low precipitation chance). Comfortable evening temperatures for baseball.
Injury Reports
Reds:
Chase Burns (SP, groin), Tony Santillan (RP, hip), Julian Garcia (RP, elbow) – 15-day IL.
Spencer Steer (1B, wrist), Michael Toglia (1B, shoulder), Blake Dunn (OF, elbow), Hunter Greene (SP, elbow) – 60-day IL.
Braves:
Ronald Acuña Jr. (RF, shin) – day-to-day (possible return).
Lane Thomas (LF, side/intercostal) – 10-day IL.
Reynaldo López (SP/RP, shoulder), Bryce Elder (SP, knee) – 15-day IL.
Longer-term: Joe Jiménez (knee), Spencer Strider (elbow), and others on 60-day IL.
Atlanta is managing late-season availability carefully; Acuña’s status is the key watch item.
Key Player vs. Player Matchups / Notable Performers
Elly De La Cruz / Juan Brito / Sal Stewart (Reds) – De La Cruz is on the verge of a 30-30 season (power + speed); Brito homered in the series; Stewart provides rookie production.
Matt Olson / Austin Riley / Mauricio Dubón / Ozzie Albies / Michael Harris II (Braves) – Olson (41 HR range) and Riley provide middle-order power; Dubón has a lengthy hitting streak and delivered the walk-off; Albies and Harris set the table with contact and speed.
Singer (righty, sinker/slider heavy) vs. Atlanta’s power hitters and Mahle vs. Cincinnati’s strikeout-prone lineup will be pivotal.
Recent Team Forms
Reds: 4-6 in last 10; inconsistent offense and pitching. Road struggles (35-42).
Braves: 6-4 in last 10; strong home record (52-28). Playoff-ready lineup and improved rotation depth with Mahle.
Series History (2026)
Series tied 1-1. Braves hold a slight overall edge in the season series. Competitive earlier meetings in May.
Betting Trends
Unders have hit in recent series games. Atlanta’s home dominance and Mahle’s form support the favorite.
Game Odds
Cincinnati Reds 7.5
Atlanta Braves – 212
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Wednesday, September 23, 2026
