Chicago @ Cincinnati preview
Great American Ball Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 21, 2015 ) Chi. Cubs 5, Cincinnati 4
The performance of the Chicago Cubs' budding stars has pushed the team into the playoff picture earlier than expected. They'll be on display Wednesday as the Cubs wrap up a four-game series at the Cincinnati Reds with a day-night doubleheader after splitting the first two contests.
The newest addition to Chicago's talented, youthful lineup played hero Tuesday, as rookie catcher Kyle Schwarber delivered a tying home run in the ninth inning and a go-ahead blast in the 13th for a 5-4 victory. While the Cubs are looking to bolster their roster to help strengthen their hold on one of the National League wild-card spots, the Reds appear poised to unload some of their veteran players ahead of next week's non-waiver trading deadline. Cincinnati has lost three of five since the All-Star break and is nine games below .500, matching its low point of the season. The Cubs lead the season series 8-3 and have won three of four at Cincinnati, with five of the 11 meetings going to extra innings.
TV: 12:35 p.m. ET, ABC 7 (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Kyle Hendricks (4-4, 3.44 ERA) vs. Reds RH Mike Leake (7-5, 3.95)
Hendricks has allowed only one earned run over his last four starts, holding opponents to a .189 average over that span. The 25-year-old hasn't gotten much support, though, as the Cubs have totaled five runs in those four contests. Hendricks is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in three starts against the Reds, and he held them to one run on four hits over five innings in a no-decision June 13 in Chicago.
Leake has won back-to-back starts and five of his last six decisions. The 27-year-old was dominant in his final outing of the first half and he picked up where he left off Friday against Cleveland, allowing one run and four hits over six frames to earn the win. Leake is 8-2 with a 3.28 ERA in 18 career starts against the Cubs, but he does not have a decision in three meetings this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Schwarber has recorded four hits twice in 11 major-league games while the rest of Chicago's team has one four-hit game this season.
2. Reds 1B Joey Votto is batting .390 with two homers and five RBIs during an 11-game on-base streak.
3. Cubs RF Jorge Soler is riding a six-game hitting streak, two games shy of his career-long streak earlier this season.
PREDICTION: Cubs 3, Reds 2