Today is the day – the last day of the regular season. And for both the Cincinnati Reds and the Toronto Blue Jays it’s the final day of their season as neither squad is heading to the playoffs. The two teams will square off this afternoon and try to end their season on a high note with the winner on Sunday picking up a series win to end 2026. First pitch is scheduled for 3:07pm ET.
Starting Lineups
Cincinnati Reds | Toronto Blue Jays |
| Carlos Jorge – CF | George Springer – DH |
| Elly De La Cruz – DH | Brett Bateman – RF |
| Sal Stewart – 1B | Kazuma Okamoto – 3B |
| JJ Bleday – LF | Charles McAdoo – 1B |
| Juan Brito – 3B | Davis Schneider – LF |
| Hector Rodriguez – RF | Brandon Valenzuela – C |
| Matt McLain – 2B | Myles Straw – CF |
| Will Banfield – C | Andres Gimenez – SS |
| Oswaldo Cabrera – SS | Ernie Clement – 2B |
| Brandon Williamson – LHP | Max Scherzer – RHP |
Starting Pitchers
| Pitcher | IP | ERA | WHIP | BB | K |
| Brandon Williamson | 49.2 | 4.98 | 1.41 | 27 | 33 |
| Max Scherzer | 77.2 | 6.14 | 1.37 | 34 | 61 |
| Links: Brandon Williamson’s Stats | Max Scherzer’s Stats | |||||
Brandon Williamson
It’s been a tough season for Williamson. He made six starts at the beginning of the year and had some success and some struggles, but he then missed all of May, June, July, and August. He returned to Cincinnati in September and his first two games didn’t go well. But he’s made thee appearance since then and he’s allowed just two earned runs in 12.0 innings.
The splits against Williamson are similar to each other in terms of OPS, but the two groups of hitters get there in different ways. Left-handed hitters have a lower average, but when they get hits they are hits for a ton of power. Righties hit for a so-so average and walk more than they strike out, but when they get hits they are only showing solid power.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 154 | 31 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 22 | 21 | .244 | .364 | .409 |
| LHH | 61 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 12 | .222 | .295 | .444 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-sm | 2-sm | Cutter | Curve | Slider | Change | |
| Velo | 93.0 | 93.4 | 89.7 | 75.1 | 81.6 | 85.5 |
| Usage | 17% | 8% | 33% | 8% | 12% | 21% |
Max Scherzer
We don’t know if this is going to be the final start for Max Scherzer in his Hall of Fame career or not, but it very well could be. The 42-year-old enters the day with a 6.14 ERA this season and had a 5.19 ERA last year. His ERA hadn’t been above 3.77 in a season since 2011. From 2013-2022 he threw 1877.1 innings with a 2.78 ERA, was an 8-time All-Star, led the league in wins four times, won three Cy Young awards, and finished in the top five eight different times.
The splits against Scherzer are quite big this year. Right-handed hitters don’t do much hitting against him and they don’t walk much, either. They show solid power against him when they do get hits, though. Lefties hit for a high average, walk nearly as often as they strike out, make tons of contact, and show good power when they get hits.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 124 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 33 | .188 | .234 | .368 |
| LHH | 213 | 50 | 8 | 0 | 9 | 27 | 28 | .275 | .373 | .467 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-seam | Cutter | Curve | Slider | Change | |
| Velo | 93.1 | 88.0 | 74.6 | 85.2 | 84.1 |
| Usage | 48% | 7% | 15% | 16% | 15% |
When and Where
- Game time: 3:07pm ET
- Where: Rogers Centre
- Watch: Reds MLB Channel, Reds.tv (in-market), MLB.tv (out of market).
- Listen: 700 WLW AM (Cincinnati area)
- Forecast: They play in a dome
Notes worth noting
One more run
Elly De La Cruz needs one run to reach 100 for the year.
One more game
Sal Stewart is in the lineup and unless that changes before first pitch, he will play in all 162 games this season.
Can Scherzer match Verlander?
Yesterday saw Justin Verlander make just his second start of the season. He pitched in March and was injured and then didn’t return until game 161. He struck out six batters in the game to get to 3560 for his career. Max Scherzer enters today’s game at 3550 strikeouts in his career. And he could be pitching his final game. He’s not the same guy he used to be, but one month ago he did strike out 10 batters in a start against Seattle. He’s only had one other start this year with more than five.
Will he go 110% all out to try and get it done one last time? Will he fight manager John Schneider if he tries to take the ball from him before he gets strikeout number 10 (this is a joke as Scherzer is well known for not wanting to exit games and has had a few incidents in he got heated over it)?
Division Standing
| Team | W | L | GB |
| Milwaukee | 102 | 59 | 0.0 |
| Chicago | 88 | 73 | 14.0 |
| Pittsburgh | 81 | 80 | 21.0 |
| St. Louis | 77 | 84 | 25.0 |
| Cincinnati | 75 | 86 | 27.0 |
Just wanted to say thanks to almost everyone for behaving like reasonable adults this season in the comments section, particularly during games where the instantaneous frustration can sometimes get the best of us. Thanks for supporting the work the staff here at Redleg Nation does. It helps put a little change in our pockets and as I’m sure all of you are well aware of, things aren’t getting cheaper and every little bit helps.
While this will be the last Reds game preview for 2026, there are still going to be near daily articles written between now and whenever the heck we players back on the field for spring training in 2027. And hopefully some of those articles will be ones with some good news. We could all use some of that every so often.
Thank you, Doug. I can imagine it gets tedious at times and I fully understand the actions of putting us in “time out”. It ultimately makes it better for all of us.
I’m still tallying up the remaining points I have to dole out but you and the RLN staff will get the bulk of them. I complain about what I spent to watch this season, but I know I’ll do it again. I just want to see MLB play in 2027.
” particularly during games where the instantaneous frustration can sometimes get the best of us.”
I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about. 😉
Thanks Doug for your Hard Work and excellent coverage! Should be an interesting off-season, at least, with the looming CBA talks ahead!
OTD in 1963 Houston Colt 45s (predecessor name to Astros) started 9 rookies (including Joe Morgan) but lost 10-3.
Reds starting 5 rookies today. Hoping for better result than above.
I remember that game. Houston’s starting pitcher was 17 year old Jay Dahl who died in a car crash a few years later without appearing in another MLB game.
+25,000 right out of the gate. I was about 4 weeks away from making my appearance on Earth. What a great original name for that team. As a kid in Northern NJ and a fan of the Miracle Mets, Rusty Staub was well known to us.
Reds started 5 rookies yesterday and won.
Not today. Losing 4-1 in 8th.
Thanks to you and the Staff Doug. Read this site everyday.
As do I, Jim t. Thank you Doug and all the others at RLN. I don’t comment but maybe once or twice but I look forward to this site each and every day, good news or bad, to read what the writers (and commenters) have to say. Thanks again Doug and all the others.
It’s a sad day in Mudville! Last game of the regular season for our Reds!
Let me shout out a big THANK YOU to Doug for all the great work you did this season!
And THANK YOU for putting up with us, especially the old grouchy Reds fans like me!
Let’s end it with a win!
Agreed.
Bases are loaded and Casey’s at bat, playing it play by play. Time to change the batter. Joe Walsh. Rocky Mountain Way.
Thanks Doug. Great Job.
Interested to watch Jorge CF leadoff, Hrod, Brito and Williamson as all 4 may be part of a huge transition in roster construction
Jorge and Oswaldo 4 for 6 last time I checked the box. Rest of team 2 for a whole lot more than 6.
Thank you Doug back on the day I couldn’t wait for the mail to deliver the Sporting News so I could read about baseball especially the Reds. Man I loved that old magazine it was like a tabloid newspaper not flashy like sports illustrated but way way better each team had a beat writer and loads of statistics in the back even of the minor league teams. This is where I get Reds news nowvand grateful for it.
Thank you Doug!
Thanks Doug! It indeed was a frustrating season with some ups at the beginning and then again after the all-star break, mostly downs in between. Still hopeful after all these years for next year.
I could add :
One more hit:
JJ Bleday and Tyler Stephenson need one more hit to reach 100 this season… Stephenson isn’t in the lineup so if he pinch-hits later he only would have one chance to do it…
We’ll see how this Reds lineup will perform against future HOFer Scherzer today…
Thank you Doug for giving a chance to us to comment and express our opinions on every game through the season, hoping that will keep rolling more and more years
Thanks Doug and the staff for consistent reliable reporting. Here’s hoping for a productive offseason and long spring training next season
It’s a beautiful September day here in the greater Raleigh area. Windows on the North side of the house are open and a nice breeze is drifting through. I’d open the door to the deck, but it’s still a pretty strong sun and we don’t want that kind of heat coming in, so that will wait until earlier evening.
Here’s to the Boyz putting up another good fight and winning. I hope we get to see QB1 once more (I still fear we won’t work out a deal with him). I’ll look forward to the offseason articles and discussion no matter what.
One more game of “positive only” from me. Homemade pizza tonight which means I need to go upstairs and grab a good beer from that fridge before dinner. The house already holds the aroma of First Wife’s pizza sauce.
Let’s pluck these Jays and head off into the sunset!!
Final available pot of points is 2,986,324 … subtract whatever I dole out during the game and split the remainder 75% for Doug and crew and 25% among my friends here at RLN in the comment section.
Why don’t you dole out some of that food that you and your “first wife” are always making? 😉
The offer stands, Melvin. You have to show up here 😉
“The offer stands, Melvin. You have to show up here ?”
Details 🙂
I’ve left plenty of breadcrumbs over time. It definitely trust you with the information … some of these mugs … not so much 😮
Thanks Doug. Redleg Nation has been my home ever since I left the old ESPN Reds message boards.
It really speaks to the deep passion of Reds fans that we still have a site like this that offers such an in-depth look at our favorite team on a near daily basis. I don’t think many (if any) other MLB teams do.
We are truly spoiled.
Long may it continue.
Scherzer is heterochromatic. Let’s knock him out early.
Just have to stand in awe of a pitcher like Max … incredible career.
One tough pitcher. Mentally and physically.
Scherzer made 30 or more starts in consecutive seasons.
Krall interviewed on radio pregame. He specifically mentioned Jorge and Hrod as getting here and need to take step. Also said “auditing” all departments starting tomorrow.
I suspect new pitching coach and changes in hitting/Pro Scouting dept.
Pro scouting was why Reds traded for Hayes. Krall listened to someone who said Reds could improve his hitting.
Could be big changes across the board……except ownership POBO and GM….Sigh.
BW with a solid first innings, including 2 Ks.
Bleday is just the 3rd Reds hitter to reach 100 hits this season
FWIW, both Stephenson and Suarez said they want to be back.
For Tyler, it’s going to depend on the deal they offer vs. what else is in play for him. Geno isn’t “expensive” by overall market standards, but that’s still going to take some negotiation other than the mutual option.
I think it is most likely the Reds call on Suarez. There is no buyout “bonus” to complicate things. If the player either thinks he can get more than $16m (or wants to be out of Cincinnati), he goes, if neither of those is true, he chooses to stay, which I think will be his choice. If the rejects the option and tries to lowball him, game on.
With Stephenson, it is likely about term length unless the Reds are backed into a corner to match a lower AAV over more years from another team with a higher AAV on a shorter term.
Above meant to say:
If the *REDS* reject the option…..
I thought they had offered Ty Steve a contract a while back and it was rejected. That always tells me whether someone really wants to stay here. Stay here at my price is not the same, in my opinion, as wanting to stay here. Players have lost all perspective on money and how much is enough to be quite comfortable for a lifetime if sanely invested.
Always, always, always a walk before the HR!
A walk and a knock. Where have I seen that bef
before*
Williamson is not good when walks batters..
I’m in favor of a nearly complete sweep of the personnel. Maybe a handful of players to be brought back. Fans fall in love with players and that’s the problem. You start bringing back the same people and you end up with the same team. They might be great people, but it’s not getting it done in the standings. Shake things up.
Until recently, the words change or shake things up seemed to be anathema to many of the Red’s faithful. We shall see what this offseason brings.
Jorge did damage to 20-year older Scherzer
Thanks Doug!
Scherzer is in short rest so I think he shouldn’t be long in this game…Maybe he is looking to go 5 frames and tries to retire winning …isn’t he?
I’m positive I’m not commenting on that one.
Williamson at 73 pitches and he’s still trying to get the 3rd out in the bottom of the 3rd inning! Yikes!
Williamson came back to walk guys and locating bad so the result is 4 runs and almost 80 pitches through only 3 innings…awful outing to close his season in a low note…
Reds struggling against a 42-year-old SP with a 3-9 record and a pregame ERA of 6.19!
Can’t catch a break! Bengals driving for the tying or winning score and Burrow gets sacked, fumbles the ball and the Steelers win!
Bengals turn Hou-Dey (last week) into Who-Dey (today).
I think Scherzer accomplished his goal for today… The Reds have made him looking as his prime sometimes…
I think you can’t underestimate the “Bill Chapel Effect” of a last game in a stellar career. Plus how many of our guys have seen him much or at all?
I’m also positive this HP umpire isn’t seeing the zone well.
Thanks Doug for your work, and for allowing us fans to comment and interact on this site.
That moment yesterday with Verlander’s 7 year old daughter running out to him when being removed from his last start ever was one of the better baseball moments I’ve seen.
It sounds like Scherzer not sure he wants to retire yet. His numbers and injuries overall the last few years would indicate he should seriously consider. It’s interesting how people handle retirement, especially the stars.
I am not shocked about Scherzer throwing his best game this season just against the Reds…He knew that since he asked the ball to pitch today … The Reds can’t hit him even he is in a short rest at 42 years old and almost fired 100 pitches…
Neither am I. That’s why I made the “Billy Chapel Effect” comment above. He may fight his way out for the 6th at this point. He’s 3 behind Verlander for all-time K’s.
Oh boy … I’m thinking Mey as had more than “one bad outing” and I’m pretty sure Doug has pointed out there hasn’t been a huge amount of progress. We’ll see how he fits in with 2027.
Talking about Jon and Cowboy’s chatter.
Luis Mey’s first 4 games after being called back up in August: 6.2 innings, 4 hits, no walks, not hit batters, no runs, 10 strikeouts.
They ran a whole piece during the broadcast that they changed his mechanics and fixed him during that 4th game. I pointed out the next day that they didn’t really do that, they just had him pitch with the same mechanics he’s been using for two years running when he has runners on base with the much lower leg lift.
In the 18 games since (including today) that “we fixed him!” piece: 19.1 innings, 12 walks, 1 hit batter, 26 strikeouts, 24 hits, 7.91 ERA.
Thanks, Doug. I remember you posting those stats. But never let the facts get in the way of calling a baseball game … 😐
Ugly Bengals game is over, having a look at the last Reds game of the year. I don’t know why.
Thanks Doug for providing a place to vent my spleen. I have much to vent and not much spleen left.
Love you guys. It’s muy fun to cheer on/bemoan the Reds with you.
I’m wondering if this is a smart move no matter what. I know he wants 3 more K’s to catch Verlander, but …
Need to be patient here, Boyz. Just like that.
OK, He got his chance. Good on ya’ Max. A fine career.
Has that been 12 up and 12 down for the relief corps?
Did Scherzer want to fire a complete game today regardless the pitch count?
Reds looking like #7 pick before draft lottery
#6. The Giants are ineligible for a top 10 pick this year.
Honestly…
IF Scherzer said he could keep going, I think the manager should have let him.
It seems like they had a deal where he would come out as soon as anyone reached base, but I still would have let him keep going if he wanted to.
For me, the line would be if he gave up a run, and even then, depending on the circumstances, I’d still might be convinced to let him keep going.
A solo HR? Keep going.
A RBI with a runner on second and fewer than 2 outs? Year outta there.
Either way, it’s over. A fine, fine career by a tough, tough (and uniquely talented) individual.
Hats off to him.
Great P by Scherzer today. Fun to listen to on WLW 700.
Thanks, Doug, for providing this longtime Reds fan with a needed outlet to offer opinions, make suggestions, vent frustrations and throw in some snarky humor regarding our favorite team.
And so it goes and so shall I know I suppose.
Pizza is in the oven. Need to retrieve that beer.
Thanks all for making this season bearable. We’re still in this together, so keep your stick on the ice.
And that’s it.
The Cincinnati Reds’ 2026 season has now been consigned to history. The stats are now forever frozen in time.
And now time for another long, dark winter with no Reds baseball, and possibly longer.
Yes, but hockey starts for real on Thursday. The CBJ have had an offseason to rival the Reds in making folks wonder who is running the show and what they are thinking.
And in their post-Fanduel world, it has been a zoo just trying to find out how to direct stream the games. They are supposed to be based on Amazon Prime, but as of yesterday, it still wasn’t possible to sign up.
Let’s hope it gets straightened out before Thursday
Turn out the lights, the party’s over.
This game loss is typical as much others this season… Bad starting pitching and offense…Defense not so good and only the bullpen was solid but I think the Reds should DFA’d Spiers, he´s not been a big league pitcher ever…I still can’t understand they DFA’d Aguiar before Spiers.,
The to-do list for the Reds FO in the offseason is very long…
No errors charged today. What was bad about defense?
Final remaining point total for distribution … 2,983,824
That means 745,956 is up for grabs across RLN (no restrictions on claiming).
Leaving 2,237,868 for Doug and the rest of the crew to divvy up however the want it. I greatly appreciate you all.
USA big rally in President’s Cup golf. Down 10.5 to 7.5 at start of day. Now up 15.5 to 12.5 with two matches. USA wins!
17 USA 13 ROW is the final score.
I wonder how well Max would have done with all ABS pitch calls. Home ump gave him everything close and not so close (1 was so far below the zone, ABS couldn’t give the distance). Meanwhile, he squeezed our pitchers.
Sad end to a so-so season, but I have post-season hopes for my wife’s Phillies! She watched every Reds & Phillies game this season.
Let’s get ’em next year! Go Reds!