The Cincinnati Reds enter Tuesday’s matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers with a 26–36 record, searching for answers amid an inconsistent season that has seen their offense sputter, their rotation struggle for depth, and their bullpen taxed far too often. Despite their placement in the lower tier of the NL Central, the Reds have managed to remain surprisingly competitive from a betting standpoint, covering the run line in a majority of their games and playing with enough grit to keep things close even when the win column doesn’t reflect it. Rookie right-hander Chase Dollander is expected to take the mound in what could be one of his first major league starts, bringing electric stuff and prospect pedigree, but little in the way of MLB experience. Dollander features a mid-90s fastball with movement and a sharp slider, and the Reds are hopeful that his command and poise can translate quickly under pressure. He’ll be challenged immediately by a Milwaukee lineup that doesn’t chase often and thrives on extending at-bats, meaning pitch efficiency will be critical if he hopes to go deep in the game and spare a bullpen that’s seen heavy use this season. Offensively, the Reds continue to rely on a rotating cast of contributors, with Jonathan India and Spencer Steer handling much of the responsibility near the top of the lineup, though neither has delivered consistent production in recent weeks.

The club’s biggest issue has been driving in runners once they get on base—despite decent on-base numbers, they struggle with situational hitting and rank near the bottom of the league in runs per game. Young infielder Elly De La Cruz has flashed game-changing speed and power but remains streaky, while veterans like Tyler Stephenson have had to adjust to varying lineup roles as manager David Bell seeks any kind of offensive rhythm. The bullpen, while serviceable, often finds itself entering games too early, and the lack of a shutdown closer has cost the Reds several late-inning leads. On the defensive side, Cincinnati remains average at best, with flashes of highlight-reel plays offset by critical errors in close games. Against a surging Brewers squad that is crisp and efficient at home, the Reds must focus on playing clean baseball, minimizing walks, and trying to force Milwaukee into manufacturing runs rather than giving up crooked numbers early. Their path to victory likely involves Dollander keeping the game close for five innings, a timely home run or two from the middle of the order, and the bullpen avoiding its usual mid-game hiccups. Given their recent trends, another one-run loss wouldn’t surprise, but if Cincinnati can tighten execution and back its young starter with aggressive, smart baseball, this could be the kind of statement win that breathes life into a team desperate for direction. The Reds know they can’t afford to fall much further behind in the division, and pulling off a road upset against the Brewers might be exactly the spark they’ve been missing.