The Chicago Cubs make the short trip to Great American Ball Park on Sunday, September 20, 2026, for a 1:40 PM ET matinee against the Cincinnati Reds. Cincinnati will send right-hander Rhett Lowder to the mound, while Chicago has yet to name a starter. With September in full swing, every game carries weight in the standings — and this NL Central matchup between division rivals is no exception. Catch the action on Marquee Sports Network or tune in on 104.3 The Score if you're driving back from the weekend.

Pitching Matchup: Lowder Takes the Ball for Cincinnati

Rhett Lowder gets the nod for the Reds on Sunday. The young right-hander has been part of Cincinnati's rotation rebuild, and in a September start against a Cubs lineup that carries legitimate lineup depth, he'll have his hands full. Specific season ERA and win-loss figures weren't available heading into this preview, but Lowder is a name Cubs hitters need to take seriously — he has legitimate stuff and won't be intimidated by the moment.

The Cubs' pitching situation is the real question mark here. No starter has been named for Chicago, which introduces some uncertainty into the game plan. Whether that's an opener strategy or a rotation shuffle, Cubs fans will want to monitor the pregame news cycle closely before first pitch.

Cubs Lineup to Watch at Great American Ball Park

Manager David Ross — or whoever is running this club in 2026 — has put together a balanced lineup for Sunday. Pete Crow-Armstrong leads off in center field, bringing his speed and on-base ability to the top of the order. Seiya Suzuki slots in at second, giving the Cubs a dangerous bat early in the lineup.

The middle of the order is where things get serious. Michael Busch hits third at first base, followed by Alex Bregman at cleanup — a veteran presence at third base who understands how to do damage in big spots. Ian Happ bats fifth in left field, and Nico Hoerner rounds out the top six hitting sixth at shortstop.

Michael Conforto gets the DH spot batting seventh, with Pedro Ramírez at second base hitting eighth and Miguel Amaya behind the plate in the nine-hole.

Cincinnati's Lineup Features Elly De La Cruz

The Reds counter with a lineup that leads off with Dane Myers in center, followed immediately by the electric Elly De La Cruz at shortstop. De La Cruz is one of the most dynamic players in the National League, and the Cubs need to keep him off the bases. When he gets on, bad things happen fast.

• Sal Stewart bats third at first base for Cincinnati
• Tyler Stephenson slots in as the cleanup DH
• JJ Bleday hits fifth in right field
• Matt McLain bats sixth at second base
• Oswaldo Cabrera hits seventh in left
• Will Banfield catches and hits eighth
• Ke'Bryan Hayes — a familiar name to NL Central fans — bats ninth at third base

Keys to the Game

• Contain De La Cruz: If the Cubs' pitching staff can limit Elly De La Cruz's impact on the basepaths, they significantly reduce Cincinnati's offensive ceiling.
• Identify the Cubs' starter: The unnamed starter is a real wildcard. How deep he can go — and how the bullpen holds up behind him — could define the game.
• Bregman in the four-hole: Alex Bregman batting cleanup gives Chicago a professional, experienced run producer in their most important lineup spot. His at-bats against Lowder will be pivotal.
• PCA on the bases: Pete Crow-Armstrong's ability to get on base and create havoc early against Lowder could set the tone from the first inning.

Prediction

This is a tough one to call without knowing who takes the mound for Chicago. Lowder is a capable arm, and the Reds at home in September are no pushover — especially with De La Cruz lurking in the two-hole. But this Cubs lineup, anchored by Bregman, Suzuki, Happ, and Busch, has enough firepower to put runs on the board against anyone.

Give the edge to the Cubs, 5-3, if they get a quality outing from their mystery starter. If the bullpen gets stretched early, this one could flip Cincinnati's way. Watch the pitching news before lock-in — it's the story within the story on Sunday.