The Cubs are back on Marquee tonight, and back on a regular field after beating the Reds at the Field of Dreams on Thursday.
Unfortunately, because of an off-day yesterday and a 5:40 pm start time tonight, we’ve gone almost 48 hours since watching the Cubs play. That stinks. I mean, sure, the Cubs kinda stink too, but I rather watch stinky Cubs baseball than no Cubs baseball. Especially over a summer weekend.
Adrian Sampson is taking the ball for the Cubs tonight, continuing what has been a quietly impressive season as a big league starter: 8 starts, 49.1 IP, 3.83 ERA. He tossed a quality start his last time out, though there was plenty of hard contact and elevation. That may not play in Cincinnati. We’ll see.
Graham Ashcraft (boy, he really should’ve pitched at the Field of Dreams) will take up arms against him, following three straight really nice outings (combined): 20.2 IP, 4ER, 17H, 4BB, 12Ks. The 24-year-old righty has made 14 starts this season, and has generally been pretty good: 3.94 ERA (3.86 xERA) – except for those SIGNIFICANT reverse splits we discussed earlier in the lineup post.
Game Info
Chicago Cubs (46-65) at Cincinnati Reds (44-67) – Friday, August 12 at 5:40 CT on MARQ, 670 The Score
Starting Pitchers
Reds: Graham Ashcraft, RHP
Cubs: Adrian Sampson, RHP
Chicago Cubs (Lineup Discussion):
- Nick Madrigal, 2B
- Willson Contreras, C
- Ian Happ, LF
- Seiya Suzuki, RF
- Franmil Reyes, DH
- Nico Hoerner, SS
- Patrick Wisdom, 1B
- Nelson Velazquez, CF
- Zach McKinstry, 3B
Cincinnati Reds:
- Jake Fraley, LF
- Nick Senzel, CF
- Kyle Farmer, 3B
- Joey Votto, 1B
- Donovan Solano, DH
- Matt Reynolds, 2B
- Aristides Aquino, RF
- Jose Barrero, SS
- Michael Papierski, C