Chicago @ Cincinnati preview
Great American Ball Park
Last Meeting ( Sep 12, 2011 ) Chi. Cubs 12, Cincinnati 8
THE STORY: The Chicago Cubs have spent most of the season posting disappointing results. Now that they’re out of the race, the Cubs have apparently decided to turn it up. Chicago has totaled 22 runs in winning its last two games and has taken six of eight overall in an effort to finish the season strong. The Cincinnati Reds are moving in the opposite direction, dropping 10 of their last 14 as their hopes for a .500 finish become more of a long shot. The Cubs will try to take another step toward a third straight series win when they send Ryan Dempster to the mound on Tuesday night at Great American Ball Park.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, CSN+ (Chicago), FSOH (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Mike Leake (11-9, 4.00 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Ryan Dempster (10-11, 4.74 ERA).
Leake will likely be making his final appearance of the season for Cincinnati, which plans on shutting the righthander down due to an innings limit. The 23-year-old has thrown 167 innings between the majors and minors this season, up from 138 1/3 during his 2010 rookie campaign. Leake is coming off the longest outing in his career, when he allowed two runs and three hits in nine innings at Chicago last week. The Reds eventually won the game in 13 innings.
Dempster has not won since Aug. 11 despite posting quality starts in four of his last five outings. The veteran righthander has had trouble working deep into games lately, completing seven innings twice in his last 10 turns. He did not factor in the decision against the Reds last week, allowing three runs on 10 hits in six innings. Dempster has faced Cincinnati four times this season, going 2-1 with a 2.88 ERA.
ABOUT THE REDS (71-76): Cincinnati has dropped three straight while allowing 28 total runs. It was Dontrelle Willis’ turn to get roughed up Monday, as the former All-Star allowed eight runs over 3 1/3 innings in his worst start since returning to the major leagues with the Reds. Willis’ control problems have resurfaced over his last four starts with a total of 18 walks in 21 innings. For all the problems the pitching has created, the Reds’ offense has put on a show lately. They hit five homers in Saturday’s 12-7 loss to the Colorado Rockies and bashed four in Monday’s 12-8 setback. Rookie Devin Mesoraco hit his first career homer off Rodrigo Lopez on Monday.
ABOUT THE CUBS (65-82): Whether it’s others taking Chicago lightly or a teamwide effort to finish up strong, the Cubs have battled lately. They lasted 11 innings on an emotional night to earn a 10-6 win over the New York Mets on Sunday and did not let up at Cincinnati. Starlin Castro was the star with a home run, four runs scored and three RBIs, and the top five hitters in the lineup combined to go 12-for-23. Manager Mike Quade said he will keep playing the veterans despite the team being out of the race and he has been rewarded with surges from Carlos Pena, Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano.
FINAL PITCH: The Reds announced on Monday that rookie infielder Chris Valaika had suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and was done for the season. The 26-year-old suffered the injury swinging in the fifth inning at Colorado on Sunday. He will undergo surgery next week and expects to be ready in time for spring training. Valaika, who tore the same ACL in college, appeared in only 14 games, batting .280 (7-for-25).