On The Horizon: Cubs vs. Reds series preview

What, you again?

The Cubs just got finished playing the Reds last week, so there’s probably not a lot you want or need to know about them that you didn’t already see in the four-game series that the two teams split at Wrigley Field.

You’ll note below that the Reds have not listed a starter for Wednesday’s game as of the time of this series preview. That would have been Scott Feldman’s turn, but he seems to have suffered a setback from the knee injury that kept him out for nearly a month. He might wind up back on the disabled list and the Reds will have to locate a starter for Wednesday.

The Reds went to Atlanta after their Wrigley series and took two of three from the Braves, though they got outscored 19-17 in the three games. That pretty much sums up this year’s Reds.

Fun fact (well, fun for Reds opponents, anyway)

The Reds have allowed 695 runs in 125 games this year, an average of 5.56 per game. Both figures are MLB worsts by a considerable margin. (Comparison point: the Cubs have allowed 543 runs, 4.41 per game.)

If the Reds pitchers continue allowing runs at that per-game pace, they will give up 901 runs this year.

Just five N.L. teams not named “Rockies” have allowed 900+ runs in a season in the last 80 years: the 1999 and 2000 Cubs (man, those were awful Cubs teams), the 2000 Astros, the 2000 Expos and the 2004 Reds. (About four dozen A.L. teams have allowed 900+ runs in a season over that 80-year span.)

Pitching matchups

Tuesday: John Lackey, RHP (10-9, 4.67 ERA, 1.321 WHIP, 5.50 FIP) vs. Homer Bailey, RHP (4-6, 8.44 ERA, 2.044 WHIP, 5.71 FIP)

Wednesday: Mike Montgomery, LHP (3-6, 3.64 ERA, 1.298 WHIP, 4.24 FIP) vs. TBD

Thursday: Jake Arrieta, RHP (13-8, 3.63 ERA, 1.203 WHIP, 3.93 FIP) vs. Sal Romano, RHP (3-5, 5.32 ERA, 1.577 WHIP, 4.87 FIP)

Times & TV channels

Tuesday: 6:10 p.m. CT, WGN, MLB Network (outside Chicago and Cincinnati markets)

Wednesday: 6:10 p.m. CT, CSN Chicago

Thursday: 6:10 p.m. CT, CSN Chicago

Prediction

The Cubs didn’t do as well against the Reds last week as they probably should have. But since the beginning of 2015 they are 18-7 in Great American Ballpark, which is even better than their record agains the Reds at Wrigley (18-8). The Cubs really do need to show they’re the dominant team in the division by taking at least two of three here, especially with those pitching matchups.

Up next

The Cubs head to Philadelphia to take on the Phillies in a three-game series beginning Friday evening.