MLB matchup analysis

Reds vs Dodgers Prediction, Odds and Model Pick

Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium · 10:10 PM ET

Watchlist

LyDia prediction: Los Angeles Dodgers moneyline

Lab Rating
6.6/10
Model lean
Dodgers 73.6%
Market probability
71.3%
Model edge
+2.3%
Best moneyline
-275
Sportsbooks checked
6
LyDia model
73.6%
Market
71.3%

The case for Los Angeles Dodgers

Starting pitcher edge: 32 points
LyDia gives Tarik Skubal a 32-point edge over Nick Lodolo, driven mainly by K-BB% (26.3% vs 8.9%) and WHIP (0.98 vs 1.52).
Late-inning bullpen advantage
Cincinnati Reds relievers have a 3.51 ERA over the last 7 days; Los Angeles Dodgers relievers have a 4.88. If this is still close after six innings, that gap favors Los Angeles Dodgers.

The case for Cincinnati Reds

Their bats are hot: +0.036 wOBA
Cincinnati Reds is outhitting its own season form over the last 15 days.

Why it is not official

Setup quality below the bar
Lab Rating is 6.6/10, under the 7.2/10 required for an official pick.
Own bullpen carries risk: 6.8/10
The Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen comes in tired. A lead after six innings is less safe than usual.
Opponent is swinging it
The other lineup is +0.036 wOBA above its season form over the last 15 days.

Why the setup score is what it is

Conviction: 9.32/10
LyDia's win probability for Los Angeles Dodgers (73.6%) is well clear of a coin flip -- this is a real, stated lean, not a guess.
Pitching plan: 40/40
Tarik Skubal rates 82 on LyDia's pitcher score, judged on its own merits (50-80 is the credited range). That is a strong start on its own, and it earns most or all of the available credit here.
Offense: 16.87/50
Los Angeles Dodgers's recent form does not clearly outpace Cincinnati Reds's.

Why the price is what it is

Team strength: 62.8%
Before any pitcher or bullpen adjustment, LyDia's team-strength model alone makes Los Angeles Dodgers 62.8% to win. Everything below moves the price from this starting point.
Pitcher score gap: 32 points
The pitcher-score gap favors Los Angeles Dodgers by 32 points. This is the biggest single mover of the price -- a large gap moves it a lot, a small gap barely moves it.
Bullpen adjustment: +0.048
The bullpen-fatigue gap between the two pens nudges the price toward Los Angeles Dodgers. This moves the price less than the starting pitchers do, since a starter covers more of the game than the bullpen.
Net effect: 62.8% -> 73.6%
Team strength alone had Los Angeles Dodgers at 62.8%. After the pitcher and bullpen terms, the price is 73.6% -- the same number shown as Model Lean above.
The verdict Worth monitoring, nothing more. The setup has pieces but does not add up to a bet at today's price.
Read the full model output

Los Angeles Dodgers remains on the watchlist. Lab Rating 6.6/10: conviction 9.32, pitching plan 40, offense 16.87. LyDia projects 73.6% against a 71.3% no-vig market number, a 2.3% model edge at -275. Los Angeles Dodgers owns the starting pitcher edge by 32 points. Bullpen read: Supports LyDia side. Los Angeles Dodgers's pen efficiency: Average (4.8/10). Lineup check: Los Angeles Dodgers is in a cold stretch (-0.069 OPS); Cincinnati Reds is swinging a hot bat (+0.092 OPS). Recent form leans against this side and is included in the unified run projection.

Game information

MatchupCincinnati Reds at Los Angeles Dodgers
DateTuesday, September 8, 2026
First pitch10:10 PM ET
VenueUNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium
Starting pitchersNick Lodolo vs Tarik Skubal
WeatherGame-time forecast: 85°F, 2% precipitation chance, 5 mph wind from NW.

Starting pitcher matchup

Full Pitcher Matchup Tool →
Nick LodoloReds · LHP
vs
Tarik SkubalDodgers · LHP
MetricRedsDodgers
Pitching planTraditional starterTraditional starter
Expected innings56
ThrowsLL
LyDia pitcher score (higher is better)5082
ERA (lower is better)5.082.86
WHIP (lower is better)1.520.98
K/9 (higher is better)7.310.8
K-BB% (higher is better)8.9%26.3%
K% (higher is better)18.0%30.5%
BB% (lower is better)9.1%4.2%
BB/9 (lower is better)3.71.5
HR/9 (lower is better)1.70.8
Ground-ball rate49.7%52.4%
Fly-ball rate50.3%47.6%

Pitcher edge: LyDia gives Tarik Skubal a 32-point edge over Nick Lodolo, driven mainly by K-BB% (26.3% vs 8.9%) and WHIP (0.98 vs 1.52).

How to read this: the scorecards above name the starters; every number lives in this table.

Strikeout Projections Full strikeout projections →

Nick Lodolo strikeouts
3.7 LyDia projected Ks
No K play · +0.2K difference is below LyDia's 0.7K threshold
Market 3.5K · O -154 / U +134 · 5 books
Tarik Skubal strikeouts
8.7 LyDia projected Ks
No K play · +0.2K difference is below LyDia's 0.7K threshold
Market 8.5K · O +100 / U -117 · 5 books

Same data source as the Pitcher Matchup Tool, where every starter on the slate is compared side by side.

Reds are 6-4 in their last 10 and averaging 5.5 runs per game over the last 15 days; Dodgers are 7-3 in their last 10 and averaging 4.5 runs per game over the last 15 days. On the season Dodgers carry the better run differential per game (+1.08 against -0.75).

MetricRedsDodgers
Last 106-47-3
Last 10 by venue (away team on the road, home team at home)4-6 on the road8-2 at home
OPS, last 15 days0.8000.686
wOBA, last 15 days (hot/cold read)0.3490.311
Runs per game, last 15 days5.54.5
K% last 15 days (lower is better)25.4%21.0%

Last 15 days only. Hot and cold streaks for all 30 teams live on the Stats page.

30-day offense

Full offense tool →
Last 30 daysRedsDodgers
OPS0.7070.697 (-0.058 vs szn)
Runs per game4.54 (+0.313 vs szn)4.52 (-0.419 vs szn)
wOBA (model offense input)0.3120.310 (-0.022 vs szn)
K% (lower is better)25.9%21.5% (+0.9% vs szn)

Over the last 30 days the Reds have been the better offense, 0.312 wOBA to 0.310. Reds are striking out at 25.9% over the window — something the opposing starter can lean on.

Season profile

Full Stats page →
MetricRedsDodgers
Record69-7587-57
Run differential / game (team quality)-0.75+1.08
Runs scored / game (offense, season)4.224.94
Runs allowed / game (defense, season, lower better)4.973.86
Season OPS0.7080.755
K% season (lower is better)25.4%20.6%
OPS vs opposing hand (season)0.7550.744

Season-long team quality, not recent form. Run differential and run environment come from the season standings; splits for all 30 teams live on the Stats page, including the run environment table.

Every team on today's slate, on any two axes you pick. Reds and Dodgers are highlighted.

Reds
Combined risk
8.4 High risk
Fatigue
8.5 High risk
Efficiency
5.2 Average
Dodgers
Combined risk
6.8 Tired
Fatigue
6.7 Tired
Efficiency
4.8 Average

Risk is what the model actually uses: fatigue blended with how well the pen has pitched. High fatigue with high efficiency is a tired pen that is still getting outs.

MetricRedsDodgers
Fatigue8.5/10, High risk6.7/10, Tired
Efficiency5.2/10, Average4.8/10, Average
Combined risk8.4/10, High risk6.8/10, Tired
Relief innings, last 7 days25.727.7
Back-to-back arms66
7-day ERA3.514.88
7-day WHIP1.441.16

Fatigue measures workload. Efficiency measures recent run prevention. Combined risk is what the moneyline and totals systems use.

Run total projection

Full Totals Projections →
LyDia projection
10.4
Market total
8.5
Projected away runs
4.1
Projected home runs
5.9
Over price
-113
Under price
-102
Cincinnati Reds team total
4.1 projected
Line 3.5 · O +120 / U -150
No team-total lean
Los Angeles Dodgers team total
5.9 projected
Line 5.5 · O +114 / U -145
No team-total lean

The model projects 1.9 runs above the market total. A research lean still requires a setup rating of at least 7.0/10. Team totals remain research-only until their graded sample is established.

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