The Chicago Cubs wrap up a late-September road trip with a Sunday afternoon showdown against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. First pitch is set for 1:40 PM ET on Sunday, September 20, 2026, with Marquee Sports Network carrying the game for Cubs fans. The Reds tab right-hander Rhett Lowder to take the ball for Cincinnati. The Cubs have not announced their probable starter. With September winding down and the regular season in its final stretch, every game carries real weight — this one included.
Pitching Matchup: Rhett Lowder Starts for Cincinnati
The Reds are sending Rhett Lowder to the mound for this one. Lowder, a young arm who has worked his way into Cincinnati's rotation, gives the Reds a defined plan heading into Sunday. The Cubs, meanwhile, have yet to name their starter, leaving that side of the matchup open heading into the weekend. Whoever Chicago sends out will need to navigate a Reds lineup that plays with energy in its home ballpark.
The pitching uncertainty on the Cubs' side is worth monitoring. A bullpen game is possible, or a late roster decision could shape who takes the mound. Either way, the Cubs' pitching staff will need to keep the Reds in check to come away with a road win.
Keys to Watch for the Cubs on Sunday
- Solve Lowder early. Getting to a starter before he settles in is always valuable on the road. The Cubs' lineup will need to work counts and find gaps against Lowder from the first inning.
- Starter clarity. Keep an eye on the Cubs' pitching announcement leading up to first pitch. Who starts shapes how David Ross or his successor manages the bullpen across nine innings.
- Road mentality. Great American Ball Park is a hitter-friendly environment, but that cuts both ways. The Cubs need to play clean, efficient baseball away from home to close out this series on a high note.
- Late-inning execution. September baseball often comes down to the seventh, eighth, and ninth. The Cubs' bullpen usage and late-game situational hitting will matter in a close game.
Broadcast Information
Cubs fans can watch Sunday's game on Marquee Sports Network or listen on 104.3 The Score. Reds coverage is available on Reds.TV and WLW 700 AM.
Prediction
This is a tough one to project cleanly given the Cubs' pitching situation remains unresolved. Lowder gives Cincinnati a steady, known quantity on the mound, and that's a real advantage when the opponent's starter is still a question mark. That said, the Cubs have the lineup depth to make any pitcher work. Expect a competitive, low-to-mid scoring game that comes down to execution in the middle innings. Slight edge to Cincinnati at home, but the Cubs are capable of taking this one if their pitching lines up right. Call it Reds 4, Cubs 3 in a game that could swing either direction.
