Chicago @ Cincinnati preview
Great American Ball Park
Last Meeting ( Sep 14, 2011 ) Chi. Cubs 2, Cincinnati 7
THE STORY: The Cincinnati Reds are inching closer to .500. But it looks like they’ll have to get there without their best starting pitcher. Johnny Cueto and his major league-leading 2.31 ERA left Wednesday’s game in the fourth inning with a right lat muscle strain. The bullpen picked up their ace, however, and the Reds went on to grab the win. The Chicago Cubs had won back-to-back series but can only do as well as a split in Cincinnati. The Cubs will send Randy Wells to the mound in search of that small goal when they close out the four-game set at Great American Ball Park on Thursday night.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, CSN (Chicago), FSOH (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Homer Bailey (8-7, 4.34 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Randy Wells (7-4, 4.73 ERA).
Bailey put together one of his best starts of the season at Colorado last Friday, holding the Rockies to one run on six hits while striking out six over 7 2/3 innings to earn the win. The 25-year-old has harnessed his control lately, surrendering only two walks against 22 strikeouts over his last four starts. Bailey beat Chicago on May 16, yielding three earned runs in six innings, and owns a 2-2 career record with a 6.92 ERA in five starts against the division rivals.
Wells has not lost since July 28 and has allowed two runs or less in five of his last six starts. The Illinois native went seven innings at New York in a no-decision last Saturday, surrendering two runs on seven hits. Wells’ worst outing in the last two months came against Cincinnati on Aug. 7, when he was lit up for six runs in eight inning but did not factor in the decision. He is 4-1 with a 3.33 ERA against the Reds in eight career starts.
ABOUT THE REDS (73-76): Cueto came up rubbing his arm after getting Carlos Pena to line out leading off the fourth inning on Wednesday. One batter later, his night was over. The ace righthander, who missed the first month of the season with an arm injury, could be done for the season. That will put some more pressure on the Cincinnati offense, which has been coming around of late. Ramon Hernandez provided the big blow in Wednesday’s 7-2 triumph, hitting a three-run homer in the second. Rookie Juan Francisco – he of the 502-foot homer on Monday – got it done without leaving the park on Wednesday with a two-run single. Cincinnati hosts first-place Milwaukee this weekend but finishes up with nine straight against teams with losing records.
ABOUT THE CUBS (65-84): Chicago has been assured of a losing record since last weekend but has gone 23-19 over its last 42 games. With the Cubs set to hire a new general manager in the fall, everyone on the team is up for evaluation. Some players have been up to the pressure. Aramis Ramirez has made it a difficult decision for the front office about whether to pick up his $16 million option. The slugging third baseman had another two hits on Wednesday and is up to .305 with 91 RBIs. Starlin Castro lifted his NL-leading hit total to 192 with a 2-for-3 game on Wednesday and has reached base in 27 straight.
FINAL PITCH: The nominees for the Roberto Clemente Award were announced this week. Ryan Dempster will represent the Cubs for the third time while Jay Bruce makes his first appearance on the ballot for the Reds. The winner is selected by the fans from a pool of 30 nominees – one from each team – and honors humanitarian and community efforts.