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Cubs @ Reds: Series Thread (Games 4-7)
The Cubs head out for their first road trip with a series win against the Brewers under their belt. Next up on their divisional to-do list are the Cincinnati Reds, last year's fourth place team but an opponent with the potential to jump up and surprise in an unusual season. This four-game series constitutes 6.67% of the whole season; there's some substantive work to do in Cincinnati.
Game 4, Monday, July 27
CHC: LHP Jon Lester (0-0, -.-- ERA)
CIN: LHP Wade Miley (0-0, -.-- ERA)
5:40 pm CDT
The series opener is a match up of veterans. Wade Miley makes his debut as a Red following a very serviceable 2019 with the Houston Astros. You may remember that he also pitched an injury-shortened 2018 season with the Brewers. Right-handed hitters have fared significantly better off of Miley both in his career and recently, so the Cubs may take this opportunity to get some playing time for bench righties Albert Almora and/or Steven Souza. Almora is 4-10 with a dinger off of him, while Souza is 6-24 with a .750 OPS. Rizzo is 3-23 with no homeruns, but maybe those were loud outs; he's struck out only twice against Miley.
Lester gets his first action of 2020 after building up a bit more slowly than his rotation-mates. He hasn't been a top-of-the-rotation guy for three seasons, but the Cubs hope he can put up a bunch of solid outings and continue his campaign toward 200 wins. Former Cub Nicholas Castellanos has hammered Lester to the tune of 3 homeruns in only 12 at bats ( along with 3 singles and a double). Eugenio Suarez has tormented Lester across 42 ABs, accumulating 6 homeruns and a 1.306 OPS in the process.
Game 5
CHC: RHP Alec Mills (0-0, -.-- ERA)
CIN: LHP Tyler Mahle (0-0, -.-- ERA)
5:40pm CDT
Tyler Mahle opens the sequel in his sixth career start against the Cubs. Last year he had two no decisions having allowed seven earned runs in 12 innings pitched. Baez 4-10 with a homer off of him as is Schwarber, albeit Kyle has also struck out 5 times against the righty.
Alec Mills has been more than serviceable when called up on by the Cubs in 2018 and 2019. He finds himself in the rotation to start 2020 due largely to an injury to Quintana. Perhaps the 28-year-old righty can take advantage of it. He pitched 12 of last year's 36 innings against Cincinnati and allowed 4 runs across three appearances. He earned a win in a 2-inning relief appearance in Cincinnati on Sep. 16.
Game 6
CHC: RHP Kyle Hendricks (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
CIN: RHP Sonny Gray (1-0, 1.50 ERA)
5:40pm CDT
Sonny Gray's 2019 was his best season yet and a remarkable rebound from a middling 2018 that he spent with the Yankees. Current Cubs have done little off of him, collectively posting a .357 OPS in 122 ABs. Albert Almora leads the pack at 3-10 with a HR (and 4 strikeouts).
Hendricks pitched a gem on opening day, completing a 3-hit shutout in just over 100 pitches. If he can just do that every start, that should do.
Game 7
CHC: RHP Yu Darvish (0-1, 6.75 ERA)
CIN: RHP Luis Castillo (0-0, 1.50 ERA)
5:10pm CDT
Luis Castillo really started to put it together last year and has come into his own as a legitimate ace. He even neared the now elusive 200 inning mark, though he fell short at 190.2. Kyle Schwarber has tagged him for 3 homeruns and collected four walks off of him, and Contreras and Happ have posted OPSs north of 1.000 in limited exposure as well. Victor Caratani, Darvish's designated receiver, has 7 strikeouts and only one hit off the righty.
Darvish took a loss in his first start, struggling a bit with inefficiency and then giving up six hits in only 4 innings pitched. He did, however, avoid both the walk and the long ball. He's held most current Reds down, but last year's rookie sensation Aristides Aquino has tagged him for two homeruns in five ABs.
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