Cincinnati Reds Face Rangers in Decisive Game 3: Can Cincinnati Bounce Back?

Watch Off the Bench Presented by UDF with Chatterbox Sports Monday-Friday 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. LIVE on the Chatterbox Sports YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE to the channel to ensure you never miss a thing. On April 2, 2025, the Cincinnati Reds face the Texas Rangers in the decisive third game of their series at Great American Ball Park, with first pitch set for 12:40 PM EDT. After splitting the first two games, the Reds aim to secure their first series win of the young season. The series opener saw Cincinnati’s offense erupt for a 14-3 victory, powered by Elly De La Cruz’s two home runs and seven RBIs, alongside Brady Singer’s seven shutout innings in his Reds debut. However, the Rangers bounced back in Game 2, with Nathan Eovaldi delivering a masterful complete-game shutout, allowing just four hits in a 1-0 win, evening the series. Today’s matchup features Reds right-hander Hunter Greene (0-0, 3.60 ERA) against Rangers righty Jack Leiter (1-0, 1.80 ERA). Greene, coming off a solid first start, will look to harness his electric fastball to stifle Texas’ lineup, which has struggled offensively outside of Wyatt Langford’s solo homer in Game 2. Leiter, fresh off his first MLB win, brings momentum but faces a Reds offense that showcased its potential in the opener. Cincinnati’s key hitters, like De La Cruz and Gavin Lux, will need to solve Leiter early to avoid another quiet day at the plate. The Reds’ pitching staff has shown promise, but consistency remains a question after Spiers’ loss in Game 2. Defensively, Cincinnati must tighten up after De La Cruz’s error in the field last night. With a daytime start and 67-degree weather in Cincinnati, conditions favor a competitive game. A Reds win would signal early-season resilience, while the Rangers hope to ride Eovaldi’s momentum and steal the series on the road. Expect a tight contest as both teams vie for the upper hand in this final showdown.