Chicago Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds Preview, Thursday 4/14, 7:05 CT

Continuing the theme from yesterday's preview, the last time the Cubs were 8-1 to start a season was 1969, when they ran out to an 11-1 start.

In fact, since 1900 a Cubs team has been 8-1 only twice: 1934 and 1969. Neither of those were pennant-winning seasons, but I think this year's team is better than either of those two.

Just keep the winning going. Things are clicking very, very well.

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Here are today's particulars.

Cubs lineup:

Fowler CF, Heyward RF, Zobrist 2B, Rizzo 1B, Bryant LF, La Stella 3B, Montero C, Russell SS, Hammel P

Going for five straight wins! https://t.co/o7r183Yq6i #LetsGo pic.twitter.com/HtzDWBMJPP

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) April 14, 2016

Reds lineup:

Hamilton CF, Suarez SS, Votto 1B, Phillips 2B, Bruce RF, Duvall LF, Pacheco 3B, Barnhart C, Iglesias P

Jason Hammel had a very good first 2016 start, last Friday against the Diamondbacks, six innings, four hits, one run. Last year against the Reds, in four starts he threw 20 innings and allowed six earned runs and struck out 17 with six walks. Current Reds are 19-for-77 (.247) against him with two home runs (Joey Votto, Jay Bruce). Keep those two lefthanded hitters down and this should be a good game for Hammel.

Raisel Iglesias is probably the Reds' best starter. This is already his third start of the year, both pretty good. He made two starts against the Cubs last year, and in this one September 2 at Wrigley Field shut the Cubs down pretty well, striking out 10 over seven innings. It was one of only six games the Reds won in 19 tries against the Cubs in 2015. Current Cubs are a small-sample-size 7-for-42 (.167) against Iglesias, but two of those hits are home runs (Anthony Rizzo, Tommy La Stella).

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

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The 2016 Game Thread procedure will be the same as the one used at the end of 2015. Here's how it works.

You'll find the game preview posted separately on the front page, two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).

At the same time, a StoryStream™ containing the preview will also post on the front page. The First Pitch Thread and all the overflow threads will be published in that stream, as well as the recap. The recap will also live on the front page as a separate post, and at the time I write the recap I will rename the stream "Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of Week) Game Threads" so you can go back and find every thread related to that particular game.

You will also be able to find the preview, First Pitch Thread, all the overflow threads and recap 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 the game's StoryStream™ as noted above.

The First Pitch thread will post at five minutes before game time, then an overflow thread at one hour, two hours and 2:45 after the scheduled game time.

Discuss amongst yourselves.