Game Details

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Date

Thursday, April 16, 2026

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First Pitch

12:35 PM ET

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Venue

Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH

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Bally Sports Ohio (local), MLB.TV (out-of-market)

Betting Odds (April 16, 2026)

Market	San Francisco Giants	Cincinnati Reds
Moneyline	+109	-131
Run Line	+1.5	-1.5
Over/Under	Over 8 (-115)	Under 8 (-105)

Consensus odds via VegasInsider as of April 16, 2026 morning lines. Total opened at 8.5 before moving to 8.

Preview: A Series to Close Out

Everything is breaking Cincinnati's way as the first month of the 2026 MLB season finds its rhythm. The Reds sit atop the NL Central at 11–7, and on Thursday afternoon they get a chance to complete a three-game home sweep of a San Francisco Giants team that has become the most bewildering underachiever in the National League.

The Giants arrive at Great American Ball Park having lost four straight road games — two against the Baltimore Orioles and now two more against the Reds. San Francisco sits at 6–12, tied with the Rockies for the worst record in the NL West and eight games behind the Dodgers. Under first-year manager Tony Vitello — who made history as the first manager hired without any prior professional coaching experience — the Giants have struggled to translate their contact (.243 team average, 10th in MLB) into runs (the fewest in the National League this season).

Cincinnati's pitching staff has been the story of their early-season success. With a 3.81 ERA ranked 4th in all of baseball, the Reds have been built around shutdown arms and an infield anchored by exciting young talent. Now Chase Burns takes the mound looking for redemption after his worst start of the season, opposed by a Giants starter in Landen Roupp whose campaign has been defined by wild swings between brilliance and collapse.

Throw in sharp money that has moved the line 26 cents toward Cincinnati since opening, and you have all the ingredients for a decisive series finale.

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Cincinnati Reds Analysis

Record: 11–7 (.611) | Division: 1st, NL Central (tied with Pittsburgh Pirates)

The Cincinnati Reds are a team with identity: a pitching-first club under manager Terry Francona built around young offensive talent still finding its full ceiling. At 11–7, they're exactly where the preseason projections suggested they could be — though how they got here has surprised some analysts.

The offense has been the quiet concern. Cincinnati's .207 batting average ranks 22nd in MLB, and they've been one of the weaker run-producing clubs on paper. But their ability to manufacture runs when it matters — and their elite pitching staff — has papered over the offensive shortcomings. Francona's squad ranks near the top in walks drawn (80 BB through 18 games), suggesting the approach is there even if the hits haven't fully materialized.

Chase Burns will take the ball Thursday in search of a bounce-back performance. The 23-year-old right-hander carries a 3.31 ERA and 1.29 WHIP into his fourth start of 2026, but his most recent outing was a setback: he allowed five earned runs on seven hits and four walks against the Angels on April 11, surrendering home runs to Zach Neto and Josh Lowe in a 5.1-inning effort. His previous two starts, however, showcased why Cincinnati drafted him as a premium talent. Burns held opponents to just one earned run across 11 innings before the Angels knocked him around.

The key to Burns in 2026 has been his platoon split. He's been nearly unhittable against right-handed batters (.125 BAA vs RHB), while left-handed hitters have had more success against him (.300 BAA vs LHB). That dynamic could come into play against a Giants lineup that mixes left- and right-handed bats throughout.

The rest of the Reds' lineup features standout shortstop Elly De La Cruz, whose elite speed and developing bat give Cincinnati a dynamic at the top of the order. Third baseman Sal Stewart has been a pleasant surprise in his offensive development, and veteran infielder Eugenio Suarez provides middle-of-the-order experience and right-handed pop. The bullpen is anchored by closer Emilio Pagán, who has proven a capable late-inning option when healthy.

At home this season, the Reds are 6–5 — solid but not dominant. Their road record (5–2) is actually where they've been most impressive, suggesting this is a well-rounded club rather than a team fueled purely by the comforts of Great American Ball Park.

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San Francisco Giants Analysis

Record: 6–12 (.333) | Division: 5th, NL West (tied with Colorado)

The 2026 Giants are a difficult team to read — and not in a good way. They have the third-most doubles in baseball (31 through 18 games), a league-average strikeout rate, and a batting average (.243) that ranks 10th in MLB. By the numbers, this offense shouldn't be this bad. Yet San Francisco has scored just 55 runs in 18 games — last in the National League — and their run production ranks dead last at 30th.

The issue is situational hitting. The Giants rank 30th in MLB in home runs (just 9), 26th in RBI, and have baseball's worst walk rate (36 BB — 30th in the league). Hits are there, but they're not stringing together, and they're not doing damage when they do connect. A team that profiles as a singles-heavy, contact-oriented club has been unable to manufacture the runs you'd expect from that approach.

Landen Roupp takes the ball for San Francisco in what has been a bi-polar 2026 debut. The 27-year-old right-hander has now made three starts, and they've gone in completely different directions:

March 30 @ San Diego: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K — dominant
April 4 vs New York Mets: 4.2 IP, 7 H, 7 ER, 5 BB, 7 K — blown up
April 10 @ Baltimore: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K — strong bounce-back

On his best days, Roupp generates weak contact, limits walks, and attacks the zone efficiently. On his worst days — typified by the Mets catastrophe — the walk rate spikes and big innings follow. In a road start against a Cincinnati lineup that has struggled to make consistent contact, the question is which version of Roupp shows up.

The Giants' rotation beyond Roupp features ace Logan Webb, veteran southpaw Robbie Ray, and right-hander Tyler Mahle — a credible top three. But the team ERA of 4.41 tells the story of a rotation that has been inconsistent at best, and a bullpen that hasn't been able to rescue games.

First-year manager Tony Vitello, whose hire from the college coaching ranks was one of the off-season's most unconventional moves, faces his biggest early test yet: salvaging the rubber game after dropping the first two of this series by a combined 10–4 score.

Head-to-Head & Betting Trends

This is the third game of a three-game series at Great American Ball Park, and the Reds have dominated from the jump:

April 14: Cincinnati 2, San Francisco 1
April 15: Cincinnati 8, San Francisco 3
April 16: Series finale (today)

San Francisco has now lost four straight road games — including both starts of this series — and is being swept in Cincinnati for the first time this season. The Giants' road woes have been severe: they've struggled to manufacture runs in opponents' parks all year.

Betting trends worth noting:

The moneyline opened as a near-coin flip (-115 Reds / -105 Giants), which eyebrows at the time given Cincinnati's 5-win record advantage over San Francisco. Since opening, sharp money has moved heavily to the Reds, with the line now sitting at approximately -131 Cincinnati / +109 San Francisco — a 26-cent swing.
The total moved down from 8.5 to 8 runs, reflecting an under-leaning signal. Both bullpens have been active in this series, and the market appears to price in a tighter game than the blowout seen on April 15 (8–3).
The Giants are 1–4 in their last five games. The Reds are 3–2 over the same stretch, including two decisive wins in this very series.

FAQ

What time does the Reds vs Giants game start on April 16, 2026?

First pitch is scheduled for 12:35 PM ET at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.

Who are the starting pitchers for Giants vs Reds on April 16?

The Cincinnati Reds are sending right-hander Chase Burns (1-1, 3.31 ERA) to the mound. The San Francisco Giants will counter with right-hander Landen Roupp, who carries a season ERA of approximately 4.44 through three starts.

What are the current records for the Reds and Giants in 2026?

As of April 16, 2026, the Cincinnati Reds are 11–7 and in first place in the NL Central. The San Francisco Giants are 6–12 and in last place in the NL West, tied with Colorado.

Have the Reds won the previous games of this series?

Yes. Cincinnati won Game 1 on April 14 (2–1) and Game 2 on April 15 (8–3). Thursday's game is the series finale, with the Reds looking for a sweep.

What is the best bet for the Reds vs Giants game on April 16, 2026?

Based on the matchup — the Reds' home-field advantage, the Giants' league-worst road run production, and the line movement toward Cincinnati — the Reds moneyline at -131 and Under 8 runs at -105 both represent the best value plays for this game. ---