Well, in recent years, Cincinnati has been a safe place for the Cubs to go after their last series went south, so let’s see if that trend continues into 2018.
I know Kris Bryant should be happy to see them, as he’s hit .306/.392/.602 against the Reds for his career, including 16 doubles and 14 homers in just 50 games. At Great American Ballpark, his slash line reads .286/.364/.505.
But the big story of the day is Tyler Chatwood’s debut with the Cubs. Chatwood signed a three-year $38 million deal this offseason, largely on what the Cubs thing he can become as opposed to what he’s already done. Thankfully, after a solid spring and a move out of Coors Park he seems ready to go. Let’s just hope his first start goes better than Jon Lester, Yu Darvish, and Jose Quintana’s and the Cubs can get back above .500 for the third time this season.
Game time is 3:10. Let’s go, Cubs.
Game Info
Chicago Cubs (2-2) at Cincinnati Reds (0-3) – 3:10 CT on NBC Sports Chicago, MLB Network (out-of-market only), 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: Tyler Chatwood (R): 4.69 ERA, 4.94 FIP; 1.56 K/BB (2017 stats)
versus
Reds: Tyler Mahle (R): 2.70 ERA, 4.01 FIP; 1.27 K/BB (2017 stats, 20.0 IP)
Cincinnati Reds Lineup:
- Jesse Winker, RF
- Cliff Pennington, SS
- Joey Votto, 1B
- Scooter Gennett, 2B
- Eugenio Suarez, 3B
- Adam Duvall, LF
- Tucker Barnhart, C
- Billy Hamilton, CF
- Tyler Mahle, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
- Ian Happ, CF
- Kris Bryant, 3B
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Willson Contreras, C
- Kyle Schwarber, LF
- Addison Russell, SS
- Jason Heyward, RF
- Javy Baez, 2B
- Tyler Chatwood, P