Cincinnati @ Chicago preview
Wrigley Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 26, 2018 ) Cincinnati 0, Chi. Cubs 9
The Chicago Cubs will play only three of their final 16 games outside their home city, beginning with a three-game visit from the Cincinnati Reds starting Friday. The National League Central-leading Cubs have only one road trip left - a six-game swing that includes three at Arizona and three against the crosstown White Sox.
Chicago bolstered its narrow NL Central lead with a 4-3 win in 10 innings Thursday at Washington, moving 1 1/2 games ahead of Milwaukee. Only six of the Cubs’ remaining contests are against teams with winning records - the three at Arizona and their final three-game series of the season against St. Louis. The Reds have played well over the past week, winning four of their last six - including two of three against the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier this week. The Cubs lead the season series 9-7 with a 6-1 edge at home.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), WGN (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Matt Harvey (7-8, 4.87 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Cole Hamels (9-9, 3.71)
Harvey has posted quality starts in four of his last six outings, pitching to a 3.38 ERA over that span. The 29-year-old had a season-high 10 strikeouts last time out against San Diego, allowing two runs over six innings to earn his first win since Aug. 18. Harvey is 2-1 with a 3.72 ERA in seven career starts against the Cubs, including a 1-1 mark and 3.14 ERA in five outings at Wrigley Field.
Hamels is 4-0 with a 1.42 ERA in eight starts since joining the Cubs. The 34-year-old didn’t allow more than one run in any of his first six starts for Chicago, but he has surrendered five in 11 2/3 innings across his last two outings. Hamels is 11-1 with a 1.86 ERA in 16 starts against the Reds, and that includes a complete game win Aug. 23 at Wrigley Field.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cubs RHP Pedro Strop left Thursday’s game with an apparent hamstring injury suffered trying to beat out a double play in the 10th inning.
2. Reds SS Jose Peraza is 15-for-33 with two homers and eight RBIs during an eight-game hitting streak, and he has six multi-hit games during the run.
3. Chicago 3B/OF Kris Bryant is 7-for-18 with four doubles in his past five games and is batting .325 in 12 games since returning from the disabled list.
PREDICTION: Cubs 5, Reds 2