The Atlanta Braves host the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday, September 24, at Truist Park with first pitch scheduled for 7:15 PM ET. Tyler Mahle takes the ball for Atlanta against Cincinnati's Brady Singer in what shapes up as a pivotal late-September regular season contest. With the calendar winding down and every game carrying weight in the standings, this is exactly the kind of home date the Braves need to handle in front of their own crowd. The game airs nationally on FS1 and locally on BravesVision, with radio coverage on 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan.

Starting Pitchers: Tyler Mahle vs. Brady Singer

Mahle gets the nod for Atlanta, drawing the assignment in what is a significant regular season start this deep into September. The right-hander will need to keep Cincinnati's lineup in check from the first inning and give the Braves the kind of length that keeps the bullpen fresh.

Singer takes the ball for the Reds. He's faced quality lineups before and won't be rattled by the Truist Park environment, so Atlanta's offense will have to earn everything it gets against him.

Atlanta Braves Lineup

• Drake Baldwin — DH
• Ronald Acuña Jr. — RF
• Matt Olson — 1B
• Michael Harris II — CF
• Mauricio Dubón — SS
• Ozzie Albies — 2B
• Mike Yastrzemski — LF
• Austin Riley — 3B
• Sean Murphy — C

Cincinnati Reds Lineup

• Carlos Jorge — CF
• Elly De La Cruz — SS
• Sal Stewart — 1B
• Tyler Stephenson — C
• JJ Bleday — LF
• Eugenio Suárez — DH
• Héctor Rodríguez — RF
• Matt McLain — 2B
• Ke'Bryan Hayes — 3B

Keys to Watch Thursday Night

Elly De La Cruz Is the Threat Cincinnati Builds Around

Batting second, De La Cruz is the player Mahle must keep off the bases. His combination of speed and raw power makes him dangerous in any count, any inning. If Mahle can neutralize him early, it changes the entire shape of Cincinnati's offense.

Acuña Jr. Sets the Tone at the Top of Atlanta's Order

Ronald Acuña Jr. hits second behind Drake Baldwin, giving the Braves a genuine game-changer near the top of the lineup. When Acuña is on base and moving, Singer has to split his focus — and that benefits Matt Olson and Michael Harris II in the heart of the order.

Atlanta's Middle of the Order Needs to Deliver

Olson at third and Harris II at cleanup represent Atlanta's run-producing core. Singer is capable of keeping lineups quiet, so the Braves need those two to come through in situations when runners are on base. A quiet night from that duo makes this a much harder game to win.

Mahle's Command Will Define the Outcome

Against a Cincinnati lineup that includes De La Cruz, Stephenson, and Suárez, Mahle cannot afford to work around the zone and pile up pitch counts early. Sharp, efficient innings are the blueprint. If he labors, Atlanta's bullpen faces a long night in late September.

Prediction

This is a game Truist Park is built for — a crisp Thursday night in late September with legitimate stakes on the line. Atlanta's lineup has the firepower to work over Singer, and if Mahle can deliver five or six quality innings, the Braves bullpen should be able to close it out. Look for the Braves to take care of business at home. Atlanta wins, 5–3.