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Cincinnati Reds at Toronto Blue Jays

By JR·2 min read
Cincinnati RedsCIN(74-86)
Toronto Blue JaysTOR(78-82)
AT
3:07 PM ET

TLDR: Neither club is going anywhere in October, but Toronto won Friday's opener in the 7th inning and gets another crack at a Reds staff running on fumes. First pitch is 3:07 PM ET, and both starters have something to prove before the season runs out.

SAT SEP 26, 3:07 PM
Spread
WIN
Total
Reds
(74-86)
LWLWL
Blue Jays
(78-82)
WLLLW

The Reds and Blue Jays meet in the middle game of Cincinnati's final series of 2026 after Toronto rallied to win Friday's opener 6-5. Rhett Lowder has struggled with walks and early exits, and Trey Yesavage is back from knee surgery on a short pitch count, so the game will probably be decided by two injury-thinned bullpens. Toronto is the home favorite.

Reds
  • Took 2 of 3 in Atlanta, including a shutout
  • Scored 5 in Friday's opener
  • Yesavage limited, so the Reds get to the pen early
  • Lowder: 5 runs and 3 walks in 3 innings last start
  • Santillan, Garcia out of the bullpen
  • Steer, Burns, Greene all done for the year
Blue Jays
  • Late rally won Friday's opener
  • Okamoto drove in 3 on Friday
  • Bateman expected back in the lineup
  • Yesavage threw just 40 pitches in his return
  • Swept by Baltimore on 7 total runs
  • Rotation gutted: Cease, Bieber, Taillon, Berrios out

Rhett Lowder (6-12, 6.01) goes for Cincinnati against Trey Yesavage (5-5, 3.67), and neither one arrives in good shape. Lowder was knocked out by the Cubs after 3 innings last time out: 5 earned runs, 6 hits and 3 walks on 60 pitches. The walks are the real concern. Yesavage is coming back from surgery on his left knee, which he had after an August 4 start against Houston. His first outing back was against Baltimore, and it lasted 2 innings and 40 pitches. He was sharp in that stretch, with 1 hit, 3 strikeouts and no walks, but it was a short stint, and nobody should expect him to pitch deep today.

Rhett Lowder
Rhett Lowder
(6-12)·6.01 ERA
Sep 20 vs Cubs
L
3.0IP
5ER
3K
3BB
60P
09/26 Lineup
Trey Yesavage
Trey Yesavage
(5-5)·3.67 ERA
Sep 21 @ Orioles
ND
2.0IP
1ER
3K
0BB
40P
09/26 Lineup

Toronto rallied to win the opener 6-5. Nathan Lukes put them ahead with a single during a 4-run 7th inning, and Kazuma Okamoto finished with 2 hits and 3 RBI. Brett Bateman's hip has kept him out, but he's expected back in the lineup today, so the Jays' outfield gets a regular back in a season where Anthony Santander and Addison Barger are both out for good. The board has Toronto as a clear home favorite.

The Reds haven't played badly lately. Before this series they took 2 of 3 in Atlanta, and one of those wins was a 4-0 shutout. The problem is the roster. Chase Burns' season ended with a groin injury, Tony Santillan needs surgery on a torn left hip labrum, Spencer Steer is scheduled for wrist surgery and Hunter Greene is out 12 to 18 months after his second Tommy John. What's left in the rotation and bullpen is covering a lot of innings with a lot of the regulars gone.

Cincinnati Reds
(74-86)
09/25L@Blue Jays5-6
09/24W@Braves7-6
09/23L@Braves2-3
09/22W@Braves4-0
09/20LvsCubs1-9
Toronto Blue Jays
(78-82)
09/25WvsReds6-5
09/23L@Orioles2-4
09/23L@Orioles2-4
09/21L@Orioles3-4
09/20W@Rangers7-2

The Jays were playing worse before Friday. Baltimore swept them, holding them to 3, 2 and 2 runs, and they needed the late rally to beat the Reds. The rotation has been hit even harder than Cincinnati's. Dylan Cease, Shane Bieber, Jameson Taillon, Jose Berrios, Bowden Francis and Cody Ponce are all on the injured list, which is how a pitcher just back from knee surgery ends up starting the second-to-last game of the season.

Cincinnati Reds
(7)
  • 15-Day-ILTony Santillan (RP) — Santillan will undergo surgery Thursday to repair a left hip labral tear.09/23
  • 15-Day-ILChase Burns (SP) — Burns (groin) worked on adding a sinker in his September outings before getting placed on the 15-day injured list to end his season.09/23
  • 15-Day-ILJulian Garcia (RP) — The Reds placed Garcia on the 15-day injured list Friday with loose bodies in his right elbow.09/18
  • 60-Day-ILSpencer Steer (1B) — Steer will undergo right wrist surgery next Wednesday.09/23
  • 60-Day-ILBlake Dunn (CF) — Dunn will have ulnar nerve transposition surgery on his right elbow Wednesday.09/15
  • 60-Day-ILMichael Toglia (1B) — The Reds transferred Toglia (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Friday.09/04
  • 60-Day-ILHunter Greene (SP) — Greene (elbow) will be out for 12-to-18 months after undergoing his second Tommy John surgery Wednesday.08/13
Toronto Blue Jays
(15)
  • Day-To-DayNewBrett Bateman (CF) — Bateman (hip) is expected to return to the starting lineup Saturday against the Reds.09/25
  • 10-Day-ILRudy Martin Jr. (RF) — The Blue Jays selected Martin's contract from Triple-A Buffalo on Friday.09/14
  • 10-Day-ILLuis Urias (2B) — Urias (quadriceps) will be shut down for the next two weeks.08/10
  • 15-Day-ILNewDylan Cease (SP) — Cease (shoulder) said Friday that he anticipates having a relatively normal offseason.09/25
  • 15-Day-ILShane Bieber (SP) — It "would be tough" for Bieber (shoulder) to return from the 15-day injured list before the end of the regular season.09/18
  • 15-Day-ILJameson Taillon (SP) — Taillon (elbow) revealed his "season is over" Tuesday and confirmed he'll be evaluated by Dr. Keith Meister in Texas on Sept. 22.09/15
  • 60-Day-ILNewAnthony Santander (RF) — Santander (shoulder) will not be returning to the Blue Jays this season.09/25
  • 60-Day-ILCody Ponce (SP) — Ponce (knee) would be a candidate to return from the 60-day injured list only if the Blue Jays make the postseason and advanced deep into October.09/07
  • 60-Day-ILPatrick Corbin (SP) — Corbin (shoulder) is a "long shot" to return from the 60-day injured list this season.09/07
  • 60-Day-ILJonatan Clase (LF) — The Blue Jays transferred Clase (foot) to the 60-day injured list Thursday.08/27
  • 60-Day-ILYimi Garcia (RP) — Garcia (elbow/neck/biceps) underwent thoracic outlet surgery Thursday and will miss the rest of the season.08/26
  • 60-Day-ILJake Bloss (SP) — The Blue Jays recalled Bloss from Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday and placed him on the 60-day injured list while he recovers from a right teres major strain.08/12
  • 60-Day-ILAddison Barger (RF) — Barger is expected to be sidelined six months following surgery Monday to repair his right elbow UCL.07/27
  • 60-Day-ILJose Berrios (SP) — Berrios underwent full Tommy John surgery Wednesday in addition to having a stress fracture repaired.05/27
  • 60-Day-ILBowden Francis (SP) — The Blue Jays placed Francis (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.05/08

This is the Reds' last series of 2026, and neither team is playing for anything but pride. That means the bullpens will probably decide it. Lowder hasn't been able to go deep lately, and Yesavage is on a pitch limit, so expect plenty of middle relief. Toronto's hitters just saw these Cincinnati relievers on Friday.

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