Red Sox vs. Reds Score, Live Updates, Highlights From 2026 MLB Opening Day

admin_news admin_news
Mar 27, 2026 - 03:30
0 0
Red Sox vs. Reds Score, Live Updates, Highlights From 2026 MLB Opening Day
Garrett Crochet

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.

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

123456789F
Red Sox00000011
Reds0000000

Red Sox vs. Reds live updates, highlights from 2026 Opening Day game

5:53 p.m.: With Rafaela on first, Anthony strikes out for the first time today and there are two outs in the top of the seventh.

Up comes Story, who is yet to reach base today.

Red Sox 1, Reds 0

5:50 p.m.: It might have taken a bit, but the Red Sox are on the board on Opening Day.

It's Rafaela who does it, getting on top of a high-fastball and driving it right over second base. The RBI single breaks the 0-0 tie as Boston takes the lead in Cincinnati.

5:47 p.m.: Marcelo Mayer comes into the game, and he gives the Red Sox their first extra-base hit of the afternoon.

Meyer hits a pitch deep to left-center field, right out of the reach of Freidl, and it's a double, putting him on base with no outs.

Then, Abreu bunts, moving Mayer to third with one out in the top of the seventh.

End of the sixth inning: Red Sox 0, Reds 0

5:44 p.m.: Garrett Crochet shows why he's one of the best in the business.

Facing a bases-loaded jam with one out, Crochet strikes out both Suarez and Steer, the ladder coming on a full count, to get out of the inning unscathed. It remains 0-0 in Cincinnati through six.

Crochet is up to eight strikeouts on the day.

5:41 p.m.: Crochet strikes out Suarez with a cutter, and there are two outs in the inning. Here comes Steer, who is 0-for-1 today.

5:40 p.m.: The bases are loaded, with Stewart hitting a single to right field as Cincinnati rattles three straight players on base.

Suarez comes up to the plate looking to bring in the first run.

5:39 p.m.: Crochet issues his second walk of the day, this one to McLain. Then, De La Cruz lines the first pitch into center field for a one-out single.

Cincinnati has two runners on in the sixth.

5:34 p.m.: Neither team can get on the board, with Abbott striking out Abreu to close out a 1-2-3 inning.

Through six innings, Boston has seven hits but no runs.

End of the fifth inning: Red Sox 0, Reds 0

5:27 p.m.: The Reds have a runner on, with Tyler Stephenson hitting a single to left field. Crochet is up to 56 pitches on the day.

But, right after, Crochet gets his sixth strikeout of the day, catching Marte looking for his sixth strikeout of the day. Then, a fly-out to Roman Anthony ends the inning.

We're scoreless through five in Cincinnati in a game that has been dominated by left-handed pitching. 

5:24 p.m.: To start the bottom of the fifth, Crochet gets Spencer Steer to strike out. The pitcher has struck out five of the last ight batters.

5:20 p.m.: Boston has had base runners plenty of times today, but it is missing the most important thing - runs.

Now, Duren, strikes out swinging as the Red Sox strand two more base runners in the fifth. Abbott has given up seven hits and is up to three strikeouts after retiring Story and Duren.

Halfway through, the game is scoreless.

5:18 p.m.: Story is now 0-for-3 on the day, striking out on a high fastball.

The Red Sox have two runners on with two outs, with Duren coming up to the plate.

5:14 p.m.: With Rafaela on first, Anthony drills a ball to first right at Stewart, who can't react to a ball that went 110 mph off the bat. It hit him in the forearm.

Anthony is 3-for-3 on the day and the Red Sox have two runners on with one out in the fifth. But, the primary concern is Stewart, who is being checked on by trainers.

End of the fourth inning: Red Sox 0, Reds 0

5:08 p.m.: It looked like Crochet threw a ball, but after the first successful ABS challenge for the Red Sox the star pitches his third 1-2-3 inning.

He has struck out four in four innings as the game remains scoreless. Both teams are looking to break the deadlock.

5:04 p.m.: To start the fourth, Crochet gets De La Cruz to swing on a low sweeper, then Stewart grounds out on the first pitch.

Up comes Eugenio Suarez, fresh off a career year where he hit 49 home runs.

5:01 p.m.: Both Abreu and Kiner-Filefa ground out in consecutive at-bats, and the Red Sox are through four innings scoreless.

Now up for the Reds is the superstar De La Cruz.

4:59 p.m.: The fourth inning starts with a Durbin fly-out to right, bringing up Wilyer Abreu.

Abreu reached base in the second inning on an infield single.

End of the third inning: Red Sox 0, Reds 0

4:57 p.m.: It's a 1-2-3 inning for Crochet, who gets McLain to strike out swinging to end the third.

Both teams are scoreless as we go to the fourth inning.

4:50 p.m.: After a seven-pitch at-bat, Contreras grounds out on a fastball.

Coming up for the Reds in the bottom of the third is KeBryan Hayes T.J. Freidl and McLain.

4:45 p.m.: Anthony is 2-for-2 on the day, hitting a leadoff single for the second time, this time to the opposite side.

End of the second inning: Red Sox 0, Reds 0

4:41 p.m.: Crochet gets out of the second inning jam, striking out Noelvi Marte with two runners on.

We head to the top of the third with the game still scoreless.

4:35 p.m.: The Reds have their first hit of the game, with Sal Stewart hitting a double to left-center field and reaching the base easily.

Cincinnati now has a runner in scoring position to start the second.

4:32 p.m.: Boston grounds into its second double play of the day, with Cedanne Rafaela hitting it right to Elly De La Cruz, who turns a 6-4-3 double play.

It ends the top of the second.

4:29 p.m.: Now, Boston has two on, with Carlos Narvaez hitting an opposite field single. Boston is in business with one out.

4:27 p.m.: For the second straight inning, Boston has the lead runner on, with Abreu outrunning Abbott to first base for an infield single.

Up comes Isaiah Kiner-Filefa, who signed with the Red Sox this offseason.

End of the first inning: Red Sox 0, Reds 0

4:23 p.m.: Crochet picks up right where he left off, pitching a scoreless first inning.

In four pitches, Crochet retires the side, and we head to the second. First up is Wilyer Abreu, fresh off a World Baseball Classic championship with Team Venezuela.

4:20 p.m.: Durbin grounds out to second, ending the top of the first with the Red Sox unable to capitalize.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100-plus top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)

Red Sox vs. Reds start time

  • Date: Thursday, March 26
  • Time: 4:10 p.m. ET

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:

DateGameTime (ET)TV/Live Stream
March 26at Reds4:10 p.m.NESN, NESN 360, Fubo
March 28at Reds4:10 p.m.NESN, NESN 360, Fubo
March 29at Reds1:40 p.m.NESN, NESN 360, Fubo
March 30at Astros8:10 p.m.NESN, NESN 360, Fubo
March 31at Astros8:10 p.m.NESN, NESN 360, Fubo
April 1at Astros2:10 p.m.NESN, NESN 360, Fubo
April 3vs. Padres2:10 p.m.NESN, NESN 360, Fubo
April 4vs. Padres4:10 p.m.NESN, NESN 360, Fubo
April 5vs. Padres1:35 p.m.NESN, NESN 360, Fubo
April 6vs. Brewers6:45 p.m.NESN, NESN 360, Fubo

More Red Sox

Read More