Chicago @ Cincinnati preview
Great American Ball Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 27, 2010 ) Chi. Cubs 1, Cincinnati 7
There could be some additional fireworks in store for Saturday's game between the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds.
Cincinnati outfielder Jay Bruce stole the show on Friday by belting three homers and driving in five RBIs in the Reds' 7-1 win over the Cubs. Bruce, who was batting leadoff for the first time since his rookie year, now has 16 home runs and 55 RBIs while hitting .270 on the season.
The NL Central-leading Reds (74-54) average 5.01 runs per game, good for third-best in the league, and will be looking to tee off on Chicago’s Randy Wells.
Wells (5-12, 4.56 ERA) hasn’t won in six starts and is coming off a tough outing against the Atlanta Braves, which served as Lou Piniella’s last game as the Cubs’ manager.
The 6-foot-5 righty allowed three homers and five runs in six innings of work while walking three in the 16-5 loss. Keeping the ball in the park has been a major problem for Wells all year long. He has allowed 17 home runs, which is three more than he gave up last season.
Wells has fared relatively well against Cincinnati this year. He’s 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA in two starts against the Reds. Wells allowed three runs and a homer over seven innings of work in a 4-3 loss to Cincinnati earlier this month.
Bronson Arroyo (14-7, 3.82 ERA) has won four of his last five starts, allowing more than two runs only once over that stretch. He threw seven solid innings in a win over the Dodgers in his last outing. Arroyo surrendered just a pair of runs while striking out six and walking none to record his 100th career win.
The long ball has always been an issue for Arroyo, who has allowed at least one blast in eight of his last 10 starts and has surrendered 20 total homers this year.
However, Arroyo has had the Cubs (54-75) in his back pocket lately. Arroyo is 5-0 with a 1.88 ERA over his last six outings against Chicago. He heads to the mound looking to match a career-high 15 victories.
Chicago’s Blake DeWitt and Marlon Byrd are both 4-for-13 lifetime against Arroyo.
Cincinnati continues to get it done in front of its hometown fans. The Reds are 37-26 this year at Great American Ball Park. With Friday’s win, the Reds stay four games ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals in the race for the NL Central pennant.