Cincinnati Reds 2026 TV Schedule & Season Information
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Cincinnati is trying to secure a playoff spot in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2012-2013.
Check out the2026 Cincinnati Reds TV scheduleright here to make sure you never miss a single steal, home run or seventh inning stretch of the upcoming season.
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Founding Season: 1882 Division: National League Central Home Ballpark: Great American Ball Park World Series Titles: 5 (1919, 1940, 1975, 1976, 1990) 2025 Finish: Lost in National Wild Card Series (2-0)
How Did the Cincinnati Reds Do in 2025?
The Cincinnati Reds clawed their way into the postseason in 2025, claiming the final wild card spot in the National League before being ousted by the eventual champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Cincinnati finished 83-79 on the season, with 40 comeback victories.
The Reds’ strength came down to their pitching. Brady Singer finished with 14 wins, Andrew Abbott added 10 and Nick Martinez contributed 11. Hunter Green was limited to 19 starts but went 7-4 with a 2.76 ERA and a complete game shutout in that time. Abbott had a career season, making his first All-Star Game and finishing 8th in NL Cy Young voting.
Offensively, the Reds were carried by All-Star shortstop Elly De La Cruz. One of baseball’s young stars, De La Cruz hit .264 with 31 doubles, 22 home runs, and 37 stolen bases — and that was considered an off year for the young star. TJ Friedl in center field added 22 doubles and 14 home runs of his own. Tyler Stephenson had a good year in just 88 games behind the plate. Ultimately, after finishing third in their division, the Reds were simply overmatched once they reached the postseason.
Cincinnati Reds Schedule
The Reds open their season on March 26 against the Boston Red Sox, a team that was also bounced in the wild card round a year ago. From there, Cincinnati takes on division rival Pittsburgh Pirates before traveling to Texas to face a Rangers team looking to rebound from a down few years.
Outside of that early stretch, Cincinnati largely avoids heavy non-division play early. From May through the All-Star break, 23 of their games will be against division opponents, offering the Reds an opportunity to gain traction in the NL Central and improve on last season’s third-place finish.
Check out the Reds’ first two months of the 2026 MLB season to find out when to tune in to watch live on TV. Games without national broadcasters are typically available through a team’s RSN or local streaming channel.
If you can’t make it out to the ballpark, there are plenty of ways to catch every game on the Cincinnati Reds schedule on DIRECTV. Below are a few places where you can watch the Reds’ baseball games.
Below are a few places where you can watch the Reds:
The Reds have numerous young stars throughout their roster — their quest for the NL Central crown starts with their continued improvement.
Elly De La Cruz – Shortstop
De La Cruz has made two straight All-Star teams and has already stolen 139 bases in just 2.5 seasons. Last season, he played all 162 games after playing 160 the year before, and he will once again look to be the engine of this offense. De La Cruz lowered his total strikeouts by 37 last year, and if he can continue to make improvements with his plate approach, the sky is the limit for the young star.
Andrew Abbott – Starting pitcher
After a breakout 2025 season, Abbott will look to take another step forward and establish himself as the Reds’ ace — no small feat on this talented pitching staff. Abbott set new career highs in starts, innings pitched, and ERA, while drastically lowering his walks per nine innings. With better control, Abbott gives Cincinnati a dominant left-hander to pair with rising star Hunter Green.
Hunter Green – Starting pitcher
Limited to just 19 starts a year ago, Green was off to what looked like a potentially career-defining season after making the All-Star team in 2024. He nearly matched his ERA, threw a complete game shutout and reined in his control by cutting his walk rate significantly. If Green can stay healthy for a full season, he is an All-Star caliber pitcher — on a rotation that already features multiple All-Star-level arms.
Nick Lodolo – Starting Pitcher
In his fourth season, Lodolo put together by far his best year as a starter. He tied for the major league lead in complete games with two, including one complete game shutout, set a new career-high ERA of 3.33, and drastically cut down on his walks. Lodolo might be a front-end pitcher on most staffs, and Cincinnati is lucky to have the former first-round pick as their third starter.
Sal Stewart – Infielder
Stewart tore through the minor leagues in 2025, hitting over .300 with 20 home runs, then collected five more once he was called up and found himself in the middle of the Reds’ lineup during their brief playoff stretch. Renowned for a patient approach at the plate — striking out just 15% of the time — Stewart is a pure hitter who can play both third base and second base.
Ke’Bryan Hayes – Third base
Acquired at the trade deadline after never quite breaking out with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Hayes brings Gold Glove defense to third base and a veteran presence to the locker room.
Spencer Steer – Utility
Steer is a super utility player capable of playing all over the outfield and infield. The 27-year-old had a down year in 2025 and has not quite built off his rookie season, when he finished sixth in Rookie of the Year voting. His average, on-base percentage, and OPS have taken hits since that debut.
Alfredo Duno – Catcher
The 20-year-old catcher is likely a few years away from it, but he looks like the future behind the plate in Cincinnati. He possesses raw power that routinely produces elite exit velocities, and his plate discipline is improving as his walk rate has climbed each year. If injuries arise or September call-ups happen, Duno could be one of them.
Rhett Lowder – Starting pitcher
The 23-year-old right-hander and seventh overall pick in 2023 has battled injuries through the minors, but Cincinnati has big hopes for him in 2026. With a fastball topping at 96-97 mph mixed with a two-seamer, a mid-80s slider and a fading changeup, Lowder has an arsenal of big-league pitches. He may simply have a hard time breaking into an already elite pitching staff.
Eugenio Suarez – Designated Hitter
Suarez is back in Cincinnati, where he spent seven seasons from 2015 to 2021. After bouncing between Arizona and Seattle and hitting 49 home runs a year ago, Cincinnati will hope familiar confines help him recapture that power. He adds a powerful bat to provide protection to De La Cruz and beyond and he can fill in at first base and third base.
Matt McLain – Infielder
McLain returns with a chance to rediscover the form that made him one of the league’s top rookies. In 2023, he finished fifth in Rookie of the Year voting after recording 23 doubles, 16 home runs and 106 hits in just 89 games. He wasn’t able to replicate that production in a larger role in 2025, after missing all of 2024, but if he can return to his rookie-level performance, McLain would give Cincinnati’s lineup a significant boost from within.
Cincinnati Reds Rivalries
Now, a look at some of the Reds’ rivalries from over the years.
The Battle of Ohio: Cincinnati Reds vs. Cleveland Guardians
Though they play in opposite leagues, the Reds and Guardians share a fierce regional rivalry dubbed the Battle of Ohio, playing for the Ohio Cup. The two teams have faced off in this matchup since 1989. The 2026 series dates are:
May 15–17 — Reds at Cleveland Guardians
July 27–29 — Cleveland Guardians at Reds
Cincinnati Reds vs. St. Louis Cardinals
The Reds and Cardinals rivalry is one of the most underrated but intense rivalries in Major League Baseball. The NL Central rivals frequently find themselves in competition for both the division title and a playoff spot. Even last year, Cincinnati went 6-7 against St. Louis with a run differential of just two — hard-fought games throughout. The Reds enter 2026 needing wins against their rivals to keep pace in an otherwise competitive division. The 2026 series dates are:
May 22–24 — St. Louis Cardinals at Reds
June 5–7 — Reds at St. Louis Cardinals
July 24–26 — Reds at St. Louis Cardinals
August 17–20 — St. Louis Cardinals at Reds
Cincinnati Reds vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Another heated NL Central matchup, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh are two long-time underperforming franchises with new stars looking to bury those historical reputations. The Reds went 7-6 against Pittsburgh a year ago and will once again hope to find themselves above the Pirates in the NL Central standings. The 2026 series dates are:
March 30–April 1 — Pittsburgh Pirates at Reds
May 1–3 — Reds at Pittsburgh Pirates
June 26–28 — Reds at Pittsburgh Pirates
July 30–August 2 — Pittsburgh Pirates at Reds
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