Red Sox vs. Reds Score, Live Updates, Highlights From 2026 MLB Opening Day originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
In his first season with the Red Sox, Garrett Crochet was nothing short of brilliant, turning in an 18-5 campaign with a 2.59 ERA and 255 strikeouts. As he prepares for his second consecutive Opening Day start with Boston, he finds himself on a collision course with a familiar face from the franchise’s past.
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The Red Sox will open the 2026 season with a matchup against the Reds and former Boston manager Terry Francona. The man who ended the franchise’s 86-year championship drought is now tasked with finding a way to solve Crochet.
Both teams have plenty of firepower. Roman Anthony leads the way for the Red Sox after a strong showing at the World Baseball Classic. Crochet will face a Reds lineup that is headlined by All-Star shortstop Elly De La Cruz.
Follow along for live updates as Crochet and the Red Sox take the field for Opening Day.
Red Sox vs. Reds score
Red Sox vs. Reds live updates, highlights from 2026 Opening Day game
4:20 p.m.: Durbin grounds out to second, ending the top of the first with the Red Sox unable to capitalize.
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Here comes Garrett Crochet to the bump for the first time this season.
4:18 p.m.: Boston has a runner in scoring position in the first, with Duren stealing his first base of the season.
Then, Abbott walks Contreras in four pitches, and up comes Caleb Durbin for his first at-bat with Boston.
4:15 p.m.: Now, Jarren Duren is on base, reaching on an infield single. Terry Francona challenges, but the call stands.
Now up is Willson Contreras for his first official at-bat with Boston.
4:13 p.m.: Boston has a runner on to start the game, with Anthony lacing the first hit of the season. But, the runner on base is short-lived, with Trevor Story grounding to short and it’s a double play. Andrew Abbott gets through two batters in three pitches.
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4:10 p.m.: Here come the Reds onto the field and first pitch is moments away.
First up for the Red Sox is Roman Anthony.
4:03 p.m.: It’s almost time in Cincinnati.
3:49 p.m.: Crochet’s 2025 season was a statistical masterpiece, as he led the entire major leagues with 255 strikeouts and finished second in the AL Cy Young voting. In his first year with Boston, he became the first pitcher since 2019 to record over 250 strikeouts with an ERA below 2.75, anchoring the rotation with a career-high 205.1 innings pitched.
His dominance was so immediate that the Red Sox locked him up with a massive six-year, $170 million extension before the 2026 season even began.
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3:32 p.m.: Here is the Red Sox lineup for Game 1. Leading off is Roman Anthony, fresh off a World Baseball Classic where he hit home runs against Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
He’s followed by Trevor Story, Jarren Duren and Willson Contreras, who was traded to Boston in the offseason.
3:26 p.m.: Happy Opening Day, Boston,.Your Red Sox play baseball today.
After a breakout 2025 campaign where he established himself as one of the most feared left-handers in the game, Garrett Crochet takes the mound today to lead a new-look Red Sox rotation against the Reds. The hard-throwing southpaw, who led the American League in strikeout rate last season, faces a Cincinnati lineup anchored by Elly De La Cruz in a cross-league Opening Day clash at Fenway Park.
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With his triple-digit fastball and a devastating cutter, Crochet looks to prove he can anchor a Boston staff that underwent a massive philosophy shift over the winter to prioritize high-velocity arms.
How to watch Red Sox vs. Reds today: TV channel, live stream
Red Sox vs. Reds will air locally on NESN. Those looking to stream the game can watch on NESN 360 or Fubo.
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Red Sox vs. Reds start time
Date: Thursday, March 26
Red Sox vs. Reds is scheduled to start at 4:10 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 26. The game will be played at the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.
Red Sox regular season schedule 2026
Here are Boston’s first 10 games of the 2026 regular season:
Date
Game
Time (ET)
TV/Live Stream
March 26
at Reds
4:10 p.m.
NESN, NESN 360, Fubo
March 28
at Reds
4:10 p.m.
NESN, NESN 360, Fubo
March 29
at Reds
1:40 p.m.
NESN, NESN 360, Fubo
March 30
at Astros
8:10 p.m.
NESN, NESN 360, Fubo
March 31
at Astros
8:10 p.m.
NESN, NESN 360, Fubo
April 1
at Astros
2:10 p.m.
NESN, NESN 360, Fubo
April 3
vs. Padres
2:10 p.m.
NESN, NESN 360, Fubo
April 4
vs. Padres
4:10 p.m.
NESN, NESN 360, Fubo
April 5
vs. Padres
1:35 p.m.
NESN, NESN 360, Fubo
April 6
vs. Brewers
6:45 p.m.
NESN, NESN 360, Fubo
