NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Cubs begin a three-game set against offense-strong, pitching-weak Cincinnati Reds tonight at Great American Ball Park.
If the Cubs manage to win the series, they’ll have had a winning road trip, but if they lose two out of three (or worse), they’ll fall under .500 for the trip and back to .500 for the season. Please don’t let that happen, dear Cubs.
And who knows, maybe it won’t. The Cubs have already beaten the Reds in five out of six games this season, and their kicking tonight’s series off with the Cubs second best starter, Mike Montgomery. Sure, he hasn’t had a ton of starts yet, but he’s been pretty good in the four he has made and seems to be improving as the season goes on. Most notably, he’s cut down on his walks lately and lasted deeper into ball games as a result. Here’s to another successful 6.0 inning start.
Opposing Montgomery is former Cubs’ starter Scott Feldman. Feldman isn’t having a great season overall, but make no mistake, he’s tossed a few gems. In his 16 starts this season, he’s allowed no earned runs against the Cardinals twice, and the Giants once (for 9.0 IP, no less). Moreover, he’s allowed two or fewer runs in nine of sixteen starts overall.
There are a couple of clunkers mixed in there, of course, but he seems to be either dominant or hittable. Which one will the Cubs get tonight?
Game Info
Chicago Cubs (40-39) at Cincinnati Reds (33-45) – 6:05 CT on WGN, 670 The Score
Game Thread and Series Preview
Your game thread is down in the comments, so let’s have some good, clean (safe-for-work) fun today.
Starting Pitchers
Cubs: Mike Montgomery (L): 2.50 ERA, 3.64 FIP, 4.24 xFIP; 1.61 K/BB
versus
Reds: Scott Feldman (R): 4.07 ERA, 4.29 FIP, 4.18 xFIP; 2.43 K/BB
Cincinnati Reds:
- Billy Hamilton, CF
- Zack Cozart, SS
- Joey Votto, 1B
- Adam Duvall, LF
- Eugenio Suarez, 3B
- Scott Schebler, RF
- Jose Peraza, 2B
- Tucker Barnhart, C
- Scott Feldman, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
- Jon Jay, RF
- Ian Happ, 2B
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Willson Contreras, LF
- Addison Russell, SS
- Victor Caratini, C
- Javy Baez, 3B
- Albert Almora Jr., CF
- Mike Montgomery, P
