Los Angeles Dodgers vs Cincinnati Reds Picks, Prediction, Odds, and Line Movement for Wednesday September 16 2026
Los Angeles looks to extend its series lead Wednesday night behind one of the best pitching performances on the entire slate, as the Dodgers travel to Great American Ball Park for game three of a four-game series against the Cincinnati Reds. This is a big spot on today's MLB predictions board, with Los Angeles entering at 92-59 after taking the first two games 4-1 and 4-0, while Cincinnati sits at 70-81. With Blake Snell on the mound for the Dodgers against Andrew Abbott for the Reds, this matchup features one of the most lopsided starting-pitching edges of the day.
TLDR: Quick Picks and Prediction
- Spread Pick: Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 (-126)
- Total Pick: Under 8.5 (-115)
- Final Score Prediction: Dodgers 5, Reds 2
Odds and Line Movement
Current Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Dodgers | -1.5 (-126) | -218 | 8.5 |
| Cincinnati Reds | +1.5 (+104) | +178 | 8.5 |
Line Movement - Moneyline
| Date | LA Dodgers | Cincinnati | Public |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09/16 | -218 | +178 | LAD 92%, LAD 85% |
| 09/16 | -219 | +178 | LAD 92%, LAD 85% |
| 09/16 | -217 | +177 | LAD 92%, LAD 85% |
| 09/16 | -206 | +169 | LAD 92%, LAD 80% |
| 09/16 | -206 | +168 | LAD 91%, LAD 80% |
| 09/15 | -206 | +169 | LAD 97%, LAD 83% |
| 09/15 | -207 | +169 | - |
Line Movement - Total
| Date | Over | Under | Public |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09/16 | 8½-105 | 8½-115 | OV 100%, OV 78% |
| 09/16 | 8½-108 | 8½-112 | OV 100%, OV 78% |
| 09/16 | 8½-112 | 8½-108 | OV 100%, OV 75% |
| 09/15 | 8½-111 | 8½-108 | - |
| 09/15 | 8½-114 | 8½-106 | - |
| 09/15 | 8½-110 | 8½-110 | - |
Dodgers vs Reds Key Matchups and Game Preview
Snell Dominant Since Returning From Injury
Blake Snell has been outstanding in his limited 2026 workload, going 4-1 with a 1.91 ERA and 1.09 WHIP across 37.2 innings while allowing only 25 hits and striking out 51 without surrendering a single home run. Snell has allowed no more than one run in each of his six starts since returning from the injured list, giving Los Angeles one of the most dominant pitching performances anywhere on the board Wednesday.
Abbott Coming Off a Disastrous Outing
Andrew Abbott takes the mound for Cincinnati with a 6-11 record, 4.78 ERA and 1.46 WHIP across 154.1 innings, having allowed 156 hits, 24 home runs and 70 walks against 120 strikeouts. Abbott is also coming off a rough start against Milwaukee in which he surrendered seven earned runs and nine hits over only two innings, adding to the concerns surrounding his outing here.
Dodgers Offense Productive Even Without Ohtani
Los Angeles is batting .255 with a .337 on-base percentage and .421 slugging percentage while scoring 749 runs and hitting 188 home runs this season. Freddie Freeman leads the club with a .296 average, though the Dodgers will be without Shohei Ohtani, who is on the 15-day injured list after producing 30 home runs, 80 RBI and a .277 average. His absence removes one of the most dangerous power bats from the lineup and takes away some offensive upside.
Sign Up Get $30 Premium Picks Credit + Exclusive Offers
Subscribe Now
Reds Power Comes With Contact Issues
Cincinnati has shown real power with 200 home runs as a team, but the Reds are hitting just .229 with a .306 OBP and have scored 625 runs. Elly De La Cruz is batting .286 with a .516 slugging percentage, while Sal Stewart leads Cincinnati with 31 homers and 107 RBI while batting .266.
Los Angeles Holds a Major Team Pitching Edge
Beyond Snell, the Dodgers carry a 3.64 team ERA, 1.16 WHIP and .219 opponent batting average, compared to Cincinnati's 4.87 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and .254 opponent average. That gap extends across the entire staff and is a central reason Los Angeles is such a heavy favorite in this series.
Dodgers Missing Key Pieces Beyond Ohtani
Los Angeles also remains without catcher Dalton Rushing and several pitchers, including Edwin Diaz and Gavin Stone. Even with those absences, the Dodgers' overall roster depth and pitching advantage have been more than enough to carry the first two games of this series.
Reds Dealing With Extensive Injuries
Cincinnati has Spencer Steer on the 10-day injured list, along with Michael Toglia, Blake Dunn and Hunter Greene all on the 60-day injured list. That level of attrition further limits a Reds roster already facing a significant talent gap against Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Controls the Series Through Two Games
The Dodgers have taken the first two games of this series by scores of 4-1 and 4-0, reflecting the pitching and offensive gaps that have defined the matchup so far. With Snell on the mound Wednesday, Los Angeles looks well positioned to push its series lead to three games.
LAD vs CIN Betting Trends
The moneyline and run line have moved firmly toward Los Angeles over the past day, with the Dodgers' price strengthening from -206/-207 on Monday night up to as high as -219 by Wednesday morning before settling around -218. Public betting has been heavily on Los Angeles throughout, with reported splits showing LAD receiving between 80% and 97% of tickets and dollars across the available line-movement snapshots.
The total has bounced between 8 and 8.5 runs, with the most recent snapshots settling at 8.5 and showing over money as high as 100% of tickets in several updates, even as the dollar percentage on the over has cooled to the mid-to-high 70s in the latest data points.
Key Injuries and Things To Know for LAD and CIN
- Los Angeles Dodgers: DH Shohei Ohtani (15-day IL), C Dalton Rushing (out), RHP Edwin Diaz (out), RHP Gavin Stone (out)
- Cincinnati Reds: Spencer Steer (10-day IL), Michael Toglia (60-day IL), Blake Dunn (60-day IL), Hunter Greene (60-day IL)
- Los Angeles (92-59) has won the first two games of this series 4-1 and 4-0
- Starting pitchers: Blake Snell (4-1, 1.91 ERA) for Los Angeles vs. Andrew Abbott (6-11, 4.78 ERA) for Cincinnati
Dodgers vs Reds Side and Over/Under Picks
- Side Pick: Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 (-126)
- Total Pick: Under 8.5 (-115)
- Reasoning: Snell's dominant recent form, Abbott's disastrous last outing and Los Angeles' overall pitching advantage still favor the road team even with Ohtani sidelined, and that same pitching gap strengthens the case for the under.
Final Score Prediction
- Los Angeles Dodgers: 5
- Cincinnati Reds: 2
With Snell allowing no more than one run in six consecutive starts and Cincinnati's offense hitting just .229 as a team, the Dodgers look set to cover the run line comfortably behind another strong pitching effort while the total stays under in Wednesday's finale.
How to Wager On Dodgers vs Reds
Bettors building out a full card around this Dodgers vs Reds matchup have a few additional resources worth exploring. For a broader look at model-driven picks across today's slate, check out these AI picks. Those wanting a deeper dive into specific modeling tools can also read the Dimers review or the Oddible review for additional perspective on how projection-based systems view this matchup and other games on the board.
Never Tried Picks and Parlays? Now Is Your Chance
- Get your first daily picks package for ONLY $1 using coupon code BUCK
- If the pick loses, we credit your account with 3 Flex Picks
- If the pick wins, we still give you 1 Flex Pick on the house
- Win or lose, you walk away ahead. One dollar. No catch.
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
New Users – Get $350 in Bonus Bets when you wager $5 for 7 days
New DraftKings Customer: SPEND $5, GET $200 IN BONUSES
