The Toronto Blue Jays wrap up another home stand at Rogers Centre on Friday, September 25, 2026, when they host the Cincinnati Reds at 7:07 PM ET. The Reds will send left-hander Nick Lodolo to the mound, while Toronto has yet to confirm a starter for this regular-season matchup. Both clubs are deep into a grind-it-out September, and every game down the stretch carries real weight in the standings. Catch the action on Sportsnet or SN590 THE FAN locally, with TVA Sports carrying French-language coverage.

Starting Pitching: Nick Lodolo Takes the Ball for Cincinnati

The Reds are going with Nick Lodolo, the tall left-hander who has shown the ability to generate swing-and-miss with a sharp breaking ball. Lodolo's specific ERA and win-loss record for this season are not yet confirmed heading into this preview, but his repertoire — fastball up in the zone paired with a curveball that plays well against right-handed bats — is well-documented. That matters because Toronto's lineup leans right-handed through its heart of the order.

As for the Blue Jays' starter, no pitcher has been officially named. That's a storyline to monitor heading into first pitch. Whether it's an established arm or a September roster move, the identity of Toronto's starter will go a long way toward setting the tone for this one.

Toronto Blue Jays Lineup and Keys to Watch

Manager John Schneider has set a lineup that puts Charles McAdoo at the top of the order at second base, followed by Alejandro Kirk hitting second and catching. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. slots in at cleanup — correction, third — with George Springer hitting cleanup at designated hitter. The middle of the order gives the Jays genuine damage potential against a left-handed starter.

• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. vs. Lodolo: Vlad is the fulcrum of this offence. How Lodolo attacks him with his curveball — and whether Guerrero Jr. lays off the breaking ball down and away — could define the middle innings.
• Alejandro Kirk's on-base ability: Kirk hitting second puts a potential table-setter in front of Guerrero Jr. If Kirk gets on base at his typically patient rate, the Jays can do damage before the third spot even comes up.
• Kazuma Okamoto and the bottom half: Okamoto at third, Nathan Lukes in right, Davis Schneider in left, Ernie Clement at short, and Myles Straw in centre round out the card. Lodolo will likely try to navigate this group efficiently, but any traffic from the six through nine spots can put pressure on the Reds bullpen early.
• Toronto's unconfirmed starter: This is the biggest unknown. If the Jays hand the ball to a reliable arm, they control the early innings. If it's a bullpen game, the strategy shifts entirely toward match-up management from the jump.

Prediction

This game hinges on two things: who Toronto actually sends to the mound, and whether Guerrero Jr. and Springer can do damage against Lodolo in the first time through the order. Lodolo is a capable pitcher who can keep lineups off-balance, but Rogers Centre in late September with a motivated Blue Jays club at home is not an easy environment. Give the edge to Toronto, 4-2, banking on the middle of the lineup to break through in the fifth or sixth inning and the bullpen to hold the lead. Jays take this one at home.