NEWSLETTER
So far this season, the Chicago Cubs have matched up against the Cincinnati Reds 16 times, and in those 16 contests, the Cubs have won a grand total of … seven games.
Yep. That’s right. The Cubs are playing .438 baseball against the Reds (70-win pace) and .556 baseball against everyone else (90-win pace). So basically – the way I see it – the Reds owe the Cubs some wins this week. Give them to us. They’re ours. You don’t need them anyway. Also, go away.
We’re Going Streaking
The Chicago Cubs (81-68)Â just swept the Pirates and scored one bajillion total runs. They’re 2.0 games behind the Cardinals in the NL Central, with a one game lead over the Brewers for the second Wild Card.
The Cincinnati Reds (65-82)Â just took two of three from the Diamondbacks (which actually did help the Cubs in the Wild Card race), but they’ve already been eliminated from contention in the NL Central and have an elimination number of just 2 for the Wild Card. Their season is over. In fact, the Cubs *could* end it tonight.
Game Times and Broadcasts Info
Pitching Matchups
Game 1: Cole Hamels (L) v.Kevin Gausman (R)
Game 2: Yu Darvish (R) v. Sonny Gray (R)
Game 3: Jon Lester (L) v. Tyler Mahle (R)
Chicago Cubs
Unavailable: Craig Kimbrel, Javy Baez, Addison Russell, Anthony Rizzo, Xavier Cedeno, Brandon Morrow, Allen Webster
Cincinnati Reds
Unavailable: Kyle Farmer, Jesse Winker, Nick Senzel
Keep An Eye Out For …
Cubs Pitcher: Jon Lester simply MUST be better than he has been over his last couple starts (12 ER in 10.1 IP) if the Cubs are going to do anything of note this fall. Fortunately, the Reds have been pretty bad against lefties this season (88 wRC+).
Cubs Player: Ian Happ may very well get some more starts (at first base or by virtue of other guys moving around) with Anthony Rizzo’s ankle banged up, so let’s hope he’s decided to be a little better than he has been lately. He did hit a home run yesterday, so … good start?
Reds Pitcher: Sonny Gray has been on an absolute tear since the beginning of August (1.29 ERA over 49.0 IP). In fact, he’s gone fewer than 6.0 innings in just ONE of those eight starts (and that was a scoreless 5.0 inning outing against the Cardinals) … he’s hot.
Reds Player: Aristides Aquino has cooled off quite a bit. Since August 31st (last 64 PAs), he’s slashing just .169/.219/.254 (14 wRC+) with a 26.6% strikeout rate.
