Kyle Hendricks makes his debut for the Chicago Cubs today, and that is pretty swell. Arismendy Alcantara returns for game two of his two-game cuppa-joe, which is also swell.
The Cubs have lost the first four games of this series, which is considerably less swell.
Hendricks gets a greatly diminished Reds lineup for his debut, without Joey Votto, Billy Hamilton, Devin Mesoraco, or Brandon Phillips (though the offensive impact of that last one is debatable).
Game Info
Chicago Cubs (38-52) at Cincinnati Reds (49-42), 11:35 CT on WGN.
Game Thread and Series Preview
Game threads now live here in the comments – and with Disqus, they should be even more enjoyable.
The Series Preview lives here.
Starting Pitchers
Kyle Henricks (MLB Debut)
versus
Homer Bailey (4.15 ERA, 3.87 FIP, 3.41 xFIP; 2.83 K/BB)
Cincinnati Reds Lineup
1. Chris Heisey, CF
2. Skip Schumaker, RF
3. Todd Frazier, 3B
4. Brayan Pena, 1B
5. Ryan Ludwick, LF
6. Ramon Santiago, 2B
7. Zack Cosart, SS
8. Tucker Barnhart, C
9. Homer Bailey, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup
1. Chris Coghlan, LF
2. Arismendy Alcantara, 2B
3. Anthony Rizzo, 1B
4. Starlin Castro, SS
5. Luis Valbuena, 3B
6. Ryan Sweeney, CF
7. Nate Schierholtz, RF
8. John Baker, C
9. Kyle Hendricks, P