Chicago Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds preview, Thursday 8/24, 6:10 CT

The Cubs are 25-12 since the All-Star break. That’s a .676 winning percentage which is second-best in the major leagues behind the Dodgers, who are an otherworldly .800 (28-7). Even that, though, is just four games better than the Cubs.

Also, the Cubs’ 220 runs since the break are the most in the major leagues.

So the Cubs have been playing really, really well since the ASB. If they continue to play .676 ball for the rest of the season, they will finish 93-69, which ought to be enough to win the N.L. Central by a comfortable margin.

Here are today’s particulars.

Cubs lineup:

Zobrist 2B, Schwarber LF, Bryant 3B, Rizzo 1B, Happ CF, Baez SS, Heyward RF, Rivera C, Arrieta P

Reds lineup:

Hamilton CF, Cozart SS, Votto 1B, Duvall LF, Gennett 2B, Suarez 3B, Winker RF, Barnhart C, Romano P

Jake Arrieta vs. Sal Romano

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Recently in previews of games started by Jake Arrieta, I’ve focused on his record since July 1: 2.03 ERA, 0.954 WHIP in eight starts.

But looking back even further than that, Jake has actually been quite good since May 21: 2.83 ERA, 1.092 WHIP in 17 starts. That’s better than he did all last year, and of those 17 starts, all but three can be termed good-to-excellent.

That’s what we want to see continuing from Jake tonight. The last time he pitched in GABP, July 2, he was outstanding: just one hit allowed in seven strong innings. Current Reds are hitting .207 (30-for-145) against Jake.

Sal Romano is yet another of the miscellaneous Reds starters that Cubs hitters seem to like to crush. He will be making his 10th major-league start tonight and of the first nine, only two can be considered “good.” He’s issued a lot of walks, with a 4.3 BB/9 innings rate, so the generally-patient Cubs hitters can hopefully wait him out and then hit him — he’s allowed 50 hits and six home runs in 45⅔ innings.

He has never faced the Cubs or anyone on the current roster.

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 2017 Game Thread procedure will be the same as the one used during 2016. 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.

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Discuss amongst yourselves.