San Diego Padres vs Cincinnati Reds Prediction & Picks - MLB

Prediction published on 9/9/25, 5:48 PM  by Carlos Zabala | Modified on 9/10/25 at 12:10 AM in MLB Picks

A key series for both teams is being played at Petco Park. With a walk-off sac fly by Fernando Tatis, the Padres won the series opener 4-3 in San Diego against the Reds. With this, the Padres are now just one game behind the Dodgers, taking advantage of their loss in Baltimore, and ultimately the NL West Division decider promises to have an exciting September.

The Padres were coming off a win in the final two games of their series in Colorado. In Monday's game against the Reds, the Padres were trailing 0-3 when Sheets hit an RBI double in the sixth inning and Merill then hit a two-run triple.

After 5.2 innings from Darvish, Mike Shildt didn't hesitate in bringing in the best of his bullpen, one that is missing Jason Adam due to injury. But Estrada, Morejón, Miller, Suárez, and finally Peralta combined among the five relievers to pitch four innings. In those innings, they struck out six and allowed only one hit. Without a doubt, the Padres' bullpen is formidable.

Francona is managing a Reds team that refuses to give up their hopes of winning the last Wild Card. He brought in the reliable Nick Martínez in the tenth inning, but with the ghost runner already on second base in the tenth inning, and committing a throwing error after a Padres bunt, he was unable to prevent Cincinnati's defeat.