Dodgers at Reds, Game 3 - Preview and Lineups

A 4-2 homestand sure would help the Cincinnati Reds in their climb out of the NL Central cellar, of course. That math checks out.

More importantly, though, a 4-2 homestand against the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers - the two best, most potent NL teams to date - would go a long way towards showing the world that these aren’t the Reds of the last five years, and can compete, and beat, the big boys of the league.

That’s exactly what’s on the line on Sunday, as the Reds and Dodgers square off in the rubber match of their quick 3 game series. After Tyler Mahle managed to shut down the Dodgers on Saturday, the Reds will turn to veteran righty Tanner Roark to get the job done this Sunday afternoon.

The Dodgers, of course, have plenty with which to counter. They’ll send Hyun-Jin Ryu to the mound, the veteran lefty with an ERA that sparkles down in Luis Castillo territory. Seeing that he’s in the midst of one of his best, healthiest stretches in quite some time and that it’s nearly impossible to keep the LA offense quiet in back to back games, how the Reds manage to handle things on Sunday might well show us just how capable they are of pipping the NL’s best and defending their home turf.

First pitch Sunday is set for an early 1:10 PM ET. Go Reds.

Reds Lineup

Dodgers Lineup