On The Horizon: Cubs vs. Reds series preview

Since the Cubs and Reds met last weekend in Cincinnati, with the Reds taking two of three, the Cubs split a four-game set with the Phillies and the Reds ... spent much of this week sitting around. They had Monday off, split a pair with the Brewers in Milwaukee, then had Thursday off. Here’s how their schedule was mapped out in their pregame notes for Wednesday’s game:

So, they had an afternoon game in Milwaukee Wednesday (in which they blew leads of 5-0, 6-1 and 8-6 and lost 11-9), then bused to Chicago in the evening, and spent all of Thursday enjoying Chicago as tourists. Who knows? Maybe some of them took in the Cubs/Phillies game Thursday afternoon. Thus they should be well-rested... or maybe too rested. Here’s hoping they were out on the town Thursday evening having fun. Right?

Fun fact

Since the beginning of 2018, the Cubs are 4-8 against the Reds in Cincinnati, but 8-2 against them in Wrigley Field.

Pitching matchups

Friday: Anthony DeSclafani, RHP (2-2, 4.60 ERA, 1.244 WHIP, 4.83 FIP) vs. Kyle Hendricks, RHP (4-4, 3.21 ERA, 1.179 WHIP, 3.29 FIP)

Saturday: Tyler Mahle, RHP (1-5, 3.51 ERA, 1.169 WHIP, 3.47 FIP) vs. Yu Darvish, RHP (2-3, 5.06 ERA, 1.563 WHIP, 5.11 FIP)

Sunday: Tanner Roark, RHP (3-3, 3.51 ERA, 1.422 WHIP, 3.16 FIP) vs. Jose Quintana, LHP (4-3, 3.30 ERA, 1.221 WHIP, 3.73 FIP)

Times & TV channels

Friday: 1:20 p.m. CT, NBC Sports Chicago, MLB Network (outside Cubs and Reds market territories)

Saturday: 1:20 p.m. CT, ABC7 Chicago, MLB Network (outside Cubs and Reds market territories)

Sunday: 1:20 p.m. CT, WGN

Prediction

The key to defeating the Reds over the last year or so, apparently, is to play them at Wrigley Field and not at GABP, given the records noted above. The last time the Reds played at Wrigley, August 23-26, 2018, the Cubs swept them in a four-game series. I don’t usually like predicting sweeps (though it’s certainly possible), so I’ll say the Cubs will win two of three.

Reasons for a potential sweep: The Reds are 12-11 at home, just 10-16 on the road, and they are 17-13 in night games, just 5-14 in day games this season. The Cubs are 11-7 in day games, 18-12 in night games. Odd to see another team come to Wrigley having played more afternoon games than the Cubs.

Up next

The Cubs head back to interleague play with a three-game series against the Astros in Houston beginning Monday afternoon.