It’s back to a wet Chicago for the Cubs, and hopefully the game will be unaffected by intermittent storming.
Chris Volstad is coming off his first full, end-to-end good start. Question for you that will probably not become relevant: if Volstad strings together, let’s say, seven more consecutive good starts to end the year, do you trust him in the rotation going into 2013?
Brett Jackson gets bumped down the lineup, presumably to take some of the pressure off. Not a bad idea. Josh Vitters eats bench again. A bad idea.
Game Info
Cincinnati Reds (66-45) at Chicago Cubs (43-66), 7:05pm CT on CSN.
Game Thread and Series Preview
The Game Thread lives here. You should participate in the madness. And, of course, for those who aren’t into message board-style game threads, please feel free to use the comments on this post for your in-game commentary/outbursts.
The Series Preview for this series lives here.
Starting Pitchers
Mike Leake (4-7, 4.51 ERA, 4.23 FIP)
versus
Chris Volstad (0-8, 7.22 ERA, 4.27 FIP)
Cincinnati Reds Lineup
1. Zack Cosart, SS
2. Drew Stubbs, CF
3. Brandon Phillips, 2B
4. Ryan Ludwick, LF
5. Jay Bruce, RF
6. Todd Frazier, 3B
7. Miguel Cairo, 1B
8. Devin Mesoraco, C
9. Mike Leake, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup
1. David DeJesus, RF
2. Darwin Barney, 2B
3. Anthony Rizzo, 1B
4. Alfonso Soriano, LF
5. Starlin Castro, SS
6. Luis Valbuena, 3B
7. Brett Jackson, CF
8. Steve Clevenger, C
9. Chris Volstad, P