Reds Look to Continue Hot Start Against Marlins

Cincinnati aims to extend their lead in the NL Central as they visit Miami on Thursday.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 2:27am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball game between two teams, with the players and field broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes and planes of color.A cubist interpretation of the high-stakes NL matchup between the surging Reds and the upstart Marlins.Today in Miami

The Cincinnati Reds (7-3) will travel to Miami to take on the Marlins (6-4) in an early-season NL matchup on Thursday. The Reds enter the game as heavy -275 favorites, while the Marlins are +220 underdogs. Cincinnati's Rhett Lowder will face off against Miami's Max Meyer on the mound.

Why it matters

The Reds are off to a strong start in the NL Central, looking to build on their 7-3 record and maintain their early lead in the division. The Marlins have also played well to begin the season, making this an important early-season clash between two teams hoping to contend in the NL.

The details

Cincinnati has been led by their pitching staff, which ranks 5th in MLB with a 2.93 team ERA. Lowder has been impressive in his young career, posting a 1.31 ERA. The Reds' offense has struggled, ranking 29th in runs scored per game. Miami's offense has been more productive, averaging 4.9 runs per contest. The Marlins' pitching staff has a 3.89 team ERA so far this season.

  • The game will take place on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
  • First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PM ET at LoanDepot Park in Miami.

The players

Rhett Lowder

The Reds' starting pitcher, who has a 1.31 ERA and 31 strikeouts in his MLB career.

Max Meyer

The Marlins' starting pitcher, who has a 5.28 ERA and 131 strikeouts in 136 innings in his MLB career.

Cincinnati Reds

The NL Central-leading Reds, who are 7-3 to start the season.

Miami Marlins

The Marlins, who are 6-4 to begin the year and looking to keep pace in the NL East.

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The takeaway

This game features two teams off to strong starts in the NL, with the Reds looking to extend their division lead and the Marlins hoping to keep pace. The pitching matchup between Lowder and Meyer could be the key factor in determining the outcome.