The Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks close their three-game set Sunday afternoon at Chase Field, and the series is tied 1-1. Arizona opened the weekend with a 9-0 shutout. The Reds answered with an 11-5 rout. Now the Diamondbacks are home favorites at -134, yet the pitching matchup and the run environment both point somewhere the crowd may not be looking. Here is how we are playing the rubber match.
Last Updated: Sunday, August 23, 2026
Cincinnati Reds vs. Arizona Diamondbacks — Time & How to Watch
| Where | Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ |
| When | Sunday, August 23, 2026 — 4:15 PM ET |
| TV | NBCSN, Peacock |
Cincinnati Reds vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Betting Preview
Pitching heads the card, and it is a battle of left-handers. Cincinnati sends Andrew Abbott, who carries a 3.90 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP into the finale. His last month has been steady rather than spectacular. He allowed two runs over 6.1 innings against St. Louis on August 18. However, a five-run clunker at the White Sox on August 13 sits on his ledger too. Abbott misses some bats, but walks push his pitch count and shorten his outings.
Arizona counters with rookie Mitch Bratt, a 23-year-old lefty still finding his footing. His overall line reads a 4.17 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP, with a walk rate near 5.4 per nine. The split that matters is location. Bratt owns a 2.04 ERA at Chase Field against a 6.16 mark on the road, and his home-road split is stark. He can be electric, as in seven shutout innings with nine strikeouts against San Diego on August 5. He can also be brief, as in a three-inning, three-run start against Boston on August 17.
The standings tilt toward Arizona. The Diamondbacks sit 68-62 and remain in the National League wild-card chase, two games back. The Reds are 62-68 and fading at eight back. Still, recent form is even. Both clubs are 4-6 over their last 10. Meanwhile, Cincinnati just hung 11 runs on this staff Saturday, when JJ Bleday hit for the cycle in an 11-5 win.
Cincinnati Reds vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Odds
| Run Line | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reds | +1.5 (-185) | +112 | U 8.5 (-105) |
| Diamondbacks | -1.5 (+160) | -134 | O 8.5 (-115) |
Odds accurate as of August 23, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest MLB Odds – Futures – Props
Cincinnati Reds vs. Arizona Diamondbacks — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Reds | 24% | 76% | Diamondbacks |
See the latest MLB Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Reds vs. Diamondbacks Prediction — Will Bats Keep Booming?
Start with the setting. Chase Field plays as a hitter’s park in 2026, with a run factor near 1.05 and a home-run factor around 1.09. Both starters carry WHIPs above 1.40. Both walk their share of hitters. Base traffic in a park that rewards contact is how totals climb. Saturday’s 16-run shootout in the same building is a fresh reminder of what these lineups can do.
The other side is real, though. Bratt at home is a different pitcher, and a 2.04 ballpark ERA is not the product of one lucky start. Abbott can also work six steady innings and keep the number down. In addition, the stored-ball humidor takes some carry out of the air, which is why Chase no longer plays as wild as its old reputation. A crisp afternoon from either lefty flips this read quickly.
On balance, two command-challenged left-handers in a park that favors offense, with both lineups swinging hot bats, points one direction. The number sits at a reachable 8.5. We would rather back the side that only needs a few extra baserunners to cash.
The Pick: Over 8.5 (-115)
Reds vs. Diamondbacks Prediction — Is Home Chalk Overpriced?
The market is the tell here. Arizona opened around -121 and has been bet up to -134. The public money reflects it, with roughly 77 percent of moneyline tickets sitting on the Diamondbacks. That is a home favorite getting the popular vote. When a line drifts with the crowd rather than against it, the value usually slides to the other side.
The pitching matchup supports the fade. Abbott is the more established arm. Bratt is a volatile rookie who can exit early. At +112, Cincinnati is a live plus-money dog with the steadier starter and a lineup that just torched this pitching staff. The counter is honest, however. Arizona is the better team, it is at home, and Bratt’s home form is genuinely strong. The line has also moved toward the Diamondbacks, not the Reds, so this is a value lean rather than a sharp-backed play.
The Pick: Cincinnati Reds Moneyline (+112)
Final Thoughts and Bonus Angle
A few things swing this game. Watch Bratt’s first two innings closely. If his command wobbles early, the Reds’ order will make him pay and the total gets a running start. If he carries the strike zone he flashed against San Diego, both of our leans get harder. Bullpen fatigue is worth tracking after Saturday’s 11-5 slugfest, since a tired reliever in the seventh can tip a close total. This is a getaway-day rubber match, so lineups and quick hooks matter more than usual. For more of Sunday’s card, see our Rays vs. Orioles prediction and our Nationals vs. Marlins pick.
To recap, we are on two plays for the finale. The stronger position is the Over 8.5 (-115), backed by the park and two shaky left-handers. The value lean is the Cincinnati Reds moneyline (+112) against an overpriced home favorite.
MLB Reds vs. Diamondbacks FAQ: Sunday August 23, 2026
What time does the Reds vs. Diamondbacks game start?
First pitch is set for 4:15 PM ET on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at Chase Field in Phoenix. It is the third and deciding game of a three-game weekend series between Cincinnati and Arizona, and a getaway-day afternoon start for both clubs.
What channel is the Reds vs. Diamondbacks game on?
The game is carried on NBCSN and streams on Peacock. Coverage lines up with the 4:15 PM ET first pitch. Blackout or regional restrictions can apply depending on your location and provider, so confirm the Cincinnati at Arizona listing with your local service before the game.
Who is pitching in the Reds vs. Diamondbacks game?
Cincinnati starts left-hander Andrew Abbott, who owns a 3.90 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. Arizona counters with rookie left-hander Mitch Bratt, who carries a 4.17 ERA and a much stronger home split. Both are confirmed probable starters for Sunday’s series finale at Chase Field.
Who won the last meeting between the Reds and Diamondbacks?
Cincinnati won the most recent meeting, an 11-5 victory at Chase Field on August 22, 2026. JJ Bleday hit for the cycle and the Reds launched four home runs. Arizona had taken the series opener 9-0 the night before, which left the weekend set tied 1-1 entering Sunday.
Where are the Reds and Diamondbacks playing?
The teams meet at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, the Diamondbacks’ retractable-roof home ballpark. It is the finale of their weekend series. Chase Field plays as a mild hitter’s park in 2026, with run and home-run factors sitting above the league average.