The Cubs and Reds are due to kick things off tonight at Great American Ballpark. We’ll see about this one. Awfully rainy in these parts today.
Jeff Samardzija is scheduled to throw seven shutout innings today, and yet still somehow take the loss. He’ll be opposed by Alfredo Simon, as he was 10 days ago, when the Cubs’ bats couldn’t do much against the late-in-life converted starter.
It’s yet another lineup for the Cubs, who’ll start a mishmash of players, while sitting a mishmash of others. I guess that’s how it works.
Ryan Kalish stays in the starting lineup, heading out to right field in this one, spelling Nate Schierholtz, who’s off to a particularly rough start this year.
Darwin Barney draws an increasingly rare starting opportunity at second base, with Luis Valbuena sliding over to third.
UPDATE: Yup, it’s rained out. No makeup date announced yet.
Game Info
Chicago Cubs (8-16) at Cincinnati Reds (11-14), 6:10 CT on WCIU.
Game Thread and Series Preview
The Game Thread lives here. 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 lives here.
Starting Pitchers
Jeff Samardzija (1.53 ERA, 2.77 FIP, 3.36 xFIP; 3.00 K/BB)
versus
Alfredo Simon (1.30 ERA, 3.88 FIP, 4.31 xFIP; 1.89 K/BB)
Cincinnati Reds Lineup
1. Billy Hamilton, CF
2. Joey Votto, 1B
3. Brandon Phillips, 2B
4. Jay Bruce, RF
5. Todd Frazier, 3B
6. Ryan Ludwick, LF
7. Brayan Pena, C
8. Zack Cosart, SS
9. Alfredo Simon, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup
1. Emilio Bonifacio, CF
2. Ryan Kalish, RF
3. Anthony Rizzo, 1B
4. Starlin Castro, SS
5. Luis Valbuena, 3B
6. Welington Castillo, C
7. Ryan Sweeney, LF
8. Darwin Barney, 2B
9. Jeff Samardzija, P