Reds Look to Continue Hot Start Against Rays

Cincinnati visits Tampa Bay in a battle of early-season contenders

Apr. 20, 2026 at 3:19am

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting the dynamic action of a baseball game, with the opposing teams' colors of red and navy blue creating a vibrant, energetic composition.An artistic interpretation of the high-stakes matchup between the surging Reds and Rays, two early-season contenders battling it out on the diamond.St. Petersburg Today

The Cincinnati Reds (13-8) travel to Tropicana Field to take on the Tampa Bay Rays (12-8) in an interleague matchup on Monday. The Reds are favored at -130 on the moneyline, with the Rays listed at +110. Pitchers Rhett Lowder for Cincinnati and Jesse Scholtens for Tampa Bay are set to take the mound.

Why it matters

Both the Reds and Rays have gotten off to strong starts this season and are looking to continue their early-season success. This game features two teams with playoff aspirations, making it an important early-season clash between contenders.

The details

The Reds have been led by a strong pitching staff that ranks 6th in MLB with a 3.46 team ERA. Offensively, they've struggled at times, ranking 28th in runs scored per game. The Rays, meanwhile, have a potent offense that is scoring 5 runs per game, good for 10th in baseball. Their pitching staff has been more inconsistent, with a 4.37 team ERA.

  • The game is scheduled for Monday, April 20, 2026.
  • First pitch is set for 7:10 PM ET at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The players

Rhett Lowder

The Reds' starting pitcher, who has a 4-3 career record with a 2.20 ERA and 1.222 WHIP.

Jesse Scholtens

The Rays' starting pitcher, who has a 2-10 career record with a 4.84 ERA and 1.466 WHIP.

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What’s next

The winner of this game will take an important step towards establishing themselves as a top team in their respective league.

The takeaway

This matchup between the Reds and Rays showcases two of the early-season surprises in MLB, with both teams looking to continue their strong starts and position themselves for a potential playoff run.