The first 2 games of this set were tight. Cincinnati won the opener 4-0. Then Chris Sale struck out 10 on Wednesday to reach 200 for the season, Matt Olson and Austin Riley each hit solo homers, and Mauricio Dubón won it with an RBI single in the 10th after Brent Suter threw a scoreless inning. That's 2 low-scoring games, and the Reds had the better of the starting matchup in neither one of them on paper.
Cincinnati has scored 2 runs or fewer in 3 of its last 4 games, including a 9-1 loss to the Cubs to close its home schedule. The Reds went 1-2 against Chicago in the games shown and have split the first 2 here, which makes them 2-3 in the last 5. Atlanta is 4-1 in the last 5, starting with 3 straight wins in Houston before this series.
The Reds' injury list keeps growing into the final week. Tony Santillan has surgery Thursday to repair a torn labrum in his left hip. Julian Garcia went on the IL with loose bodies in his right elbow. Chase Burns is shut down with a groin injury, and Spencer Steer has wrist surgery next week. That leaves a thin bullpen behind a starter who hasn't been getting deep into games.
- 15-Day-ILNewTony 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-ILNewSpencer 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
- Day-To-DayNewRonald Acuna Jr. (RF) — Acuna (leg) is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Reds.09/23
- 10-Day-ILLane Thomas (LF) — Thomas (intercostal) took some swings off a tee Tuesday.09/22
- 15-Day-ILReynaldo Lopez (RP) — Lopez (4-5) took the loss in Monday's 7-3 loss against the Cubs after allowing five runs on six hits and two walks with two strikeouts over three innings. After the game, manager Walt Weiss stated that Lopez may be placed on the injured list due to a shoulder injury.09/15
- 15-Day-ILBryce Elder (SP) — Atlanta placed Elder on the 15-day injured list Wednesday due to arthroscopic right knee surgery.09/09
- suspensionJurickson Profar (LF) — Profar will miss the full 2026 season after the appeal of his 162-game PED suspension was denied Thursday.05/08
- 60-Day-ILJoe Jimenez (RP) — Jimenez (knee) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday.09/15
- 60-Day-ILSpencer Strider (SP) — Strider (elbow) is not expected to return to Atlanta's active roster before the end of this season.08/28
- 60-Day-ILSpencer Schwellenbach (SP) — Schwellenbach will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a fracture in his right elbow.08/28
- 60-Day-ILJoey Wentz (RP) — Atlanta placed Wentz (knee) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.05/08
Atlanta has its own long list, with Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach both out for the year and Reynaldo Lopez and Bryce Elder also on the IL. None of those absences affect Mahle's start, though. The question for the Braves is how many regulars they play with the division already won. The question for the Reds is how quickly Singer turns this over to what's left of the bullpen.