MLB Baseball BETTING PREVIEW - Los Angeles Dodgers @ Cincinnati Reds

MLB Baseball

2026-09-16 - Los Angeles Dodgers at Cincinnati Reds

A Sports Betting Preview by FirstDown

Los Angeles Dodgers @ Cincinnati Reds
United States : Major League Baseball
Wednesday 16th September 2026 - Scheduled 6:40pm EST
11:40pm (British Time)

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Preview

Back to back wins have kept Los Angeles Dodgers (92-59) very interested in trying to close the 2 game gap to the Milwaukee Brewers in the race for the Number 1 Seed in the National League. Those wins have also given the Dodgers a 3.5 lead over the Atlanta Braves for a Bye through to the Divisional Round of the Playoffs and Los Angeles have all the momentum they need as they continue this series with the Cincinnati Reds (70-81).

Elimination from the post-season has already been confirmed and the Cincinnati Reds have been struggling at the plate once again. This has been a season long problem when facing the Los Angeles Dodgers and things are not expected to be any easier on Wednesday.

Injuries have made the Los Angeles starting rotation for the post-season a little questionable, but veteran Blake Snell is playing with real confidence and will give them a viable option.

Blake Snell has a 4-1 record and 1.91 ERA in 2026, although he has only made seven starts- last season he made eleven regular season starts, but that did not stop this pitcher from an effective post-season until a couple of rough World Series outings.

He effectively missed the first four months of the season, but Blake Snell has been playing like he has never been away having chewed through plenty of Innings. A poor start in May was the only outing Snell made in the opening months of the season, but he is 4-0 with a 1.04 ERA in the six starts made since returning and won both decisions in starts made in September.

Blake Snell has not pitched against the Cincinnati Reds for the Dodgers in the regular season, but did pick up the Playoff win last year when holding them to two runs in 7 Innings thrown.

There is going to be pressure on the Reds batting lineup to find a way to get into Blake Snell, but also on Andrew Abbott, who will be starting for Cincinnati. The pitcher has a 6-11 record and 4.78 ERA in his thirty starts this season and it does feel like Abbott has hit the wall as the year has been winding down.

Since his last decision win, Andrew Abbott has a 0-4 record and 9.12 ERA in the six starts made and he has only been able to throw 6 Innings in his two September starts. Last time out he was roughed up for seven runs in 2 Innings thrown against the Milwaukee Brewers and suffered yet another decision loss.

Andrew Abbott is starting against the Los Angeles Dodgers for the first time.

Prediction

Pitchers rarely go through an entire season without a rough day or two, but Blake Snell is playing about as confidently as the Los Angeles Dodgers could hope.

He can set them up for another win over the Cincinnati Reds, who are struggling at the plate.

Blake Snell should also be well backed by the Dodgers batting lineup facing a pitcher who has been struggling for consistency and that may all come together in the final score.

The Pick :

Cincinnati Reds 2-6 Los Angeles Dodgers

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll back Los Angeles Dodgers - 1.5 Runs at -125 with Bovada