Cubs vs. Reds Preview, Tuesday 8/13, 7:05 CT: Maybe Tonight...

Not only are the Cubs 1-7 against the Reds at Wrigley Field this year (and 2-4 against them in Cincinnati), this has been a problem ever since the Reds roared into contention in 2010:

2010: 1-6 at Wrigley, 3-6 in Cincinnati
2011: 5-4 at Wrigley, 2-7 in Cincinnati
2012: 2-8 at Wrigley, 2-4 in Cincinnati

So overall since the start of 2010, the Cubs are 6-24 against the Reds at home, 9-21 on the road. Neither record is good... but you'd think the Cubs would be better at home. Of course, this year they aren't good against anyone at home (23-34; 29-32 on the road).

I can't figure this out. Can you? Also, tonight the Cubs are trying to avoid being shut out in four straight home games for the first time in franchise history. That's one record I'd rather see this team not set.

Before tonight's game, Cubs Hall of Famer Ernie Banks will be honored on the field for receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor of this country. I'm not sure if CSN will be carrying this live, but I suspect they might be streaming it at CSNChicago.com. Congratulations to Ernie.

Cubs lineup:

DeJesus LF, Lake CF, Rizzo 1B, Navarro C, Schierholtz RF, Castro SS, Murphy 3B, Barney 2B, Samardzija P

Reds lineup:

Choo CF, Frazier 3B, Votto 1B, Phillips 2B, Bruce RF, Paul LF, Cozart SS, Hanigan C, Bailey P

Today's Starting Pitchers

Jeff Samardzija Cubs vs. Homer Bailey Reds vs. Cin -- vs. Cubs

Jeff Samardzija has made three starts against the Reds this year, two decent and one not-so-much. Overall he's thrown 18 innings against them -- exactly six innings in all three starts -- and allowed seven earned runs, with 19 strikeouts. Shark is coming off the worst start of his career last week, where he allowed nine earned runs in 3⅓ innings in Philadelphia. "Shark Week" is over. It has to get better. Right?

Homer Bailey has two starts vs. the Cubs this year, and in 14 innings has allowed just two earned runs and struck out 16, with no homers given up. Bailey threw a no-hitter against the Giants July 2; since then, as has been the case for many recent no-hit pitchers, he's struggled: 4.19 ERA, 1.448 WHIP in six starts covering 38⅔ innings. Perhaps there's a chance for the Cubs tonight.

Today's game is on CSN Chicago.

Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

SB Nation game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Reds site Red Reporter.

Here's the scoop on game threads for 2013. You'll find the game preview -- like this one -- posting as the first link in the StoryStream™, which will then contain all the overflow threads and the recap. The recap will also be on the front page as a separate post; once I post a game recap, the stream for each game will be retitled "Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of Week) Game Threads" so you can go back and find every thread related to that particular game.

In general, game previews will post two hours before game time. Exception: for day games after night games, that will usually be 90 minutes.

You will also be able to find the First Pitch Thread and all the overflow threads in the box marked "Chicago Cubs Game Threads" at the bottom of the front page (you can also find them in this section link). They will also appear in this StoryStream™. As I've done for each regular-season game for several years now, we'll have the First Pitch thread at five minutes before game time (moved up from actual game time per your requests), then an overflow one hour, two hours and 2:45 after game time.

Discuss amongst yourselves.