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Cubs @ Reds: Series Thread (Games 26-28)
The Cubs (11-14) dodged a sweep in Atlanta by winning the final game, backing Alzolay to his first win of 2021. They'll complete the road trip with a 3-game series against the 4th place Reds (11-13). For now, it's a battle to get out of the NL Central basement. The Reds most recently took 2 out of 3 from the Dodgers, but prior to that they lost 7 in a row. See below for the weekend's matchups.
Game 26, Friday, April 30, 6:10 pm central
CHC: RHP Jake Arrieta (3-2, 2.57 ERA)
CIN: LHP Wade Miley (2-2, 2.45 ERA)
Arrieta took a loss against Milwaukee on April 25th through no fault of his own. It was probably his best start so far; he allowed 1 earned run and struck out 8 in 6 innings. Joey Votto is hitting .429 with 2 homeruns off of him in 14 ABs.
Wade Miley is off to a solid start in his second season with the Reds. He still relies on weak contact, but he's restricted the walks in the early going. He's lost his last two starts, allowin 6 earned runs on 3 walks and 10 hits in 11 innings. Bryant's is 6 for 14 off of Miley. Baez and Rizzo are a combined 3 for 24 with no homeruns off the veteran lefty.
Game 27, Saturday, May, 3:10 pm central
CHC: RHP Zach Davies (1-2, 9.47 ERA)
CIN: RHP Luis Castillo (1-2, 6.29 ERA)
Zach Davies's last respectable start was April 4, when he made his first start as a Cub and earned his first win of 2021. He's walked 15 in 19 innings pitched.
Luis Castillo has been off to a rough start this season, having an uncharacteristically difficult time missing bats and surrendering homeruns at a heightened rate in the early going. Notably, his velocity is down a tick or two compared to last year and he's throwing the changeup a little more frequently. He lost to the Cardinals last time out, allowing 4 earned runs and striking out 3 in 5.1 innings pitched. Ian Happ is is 6 for 13 with a homerun off of him and Heyward is 6 for 20 with a pair of dingers.
Game 28, Sunday, May 2, 12:10 pm central
CHC: RHP Trevor Williams (2-2, 4.44 ERA)
CIN: RHP Tyler Mahle (1-1, 1.75 ERA)
Williams's had an encouraging first month of the season. He managed to strike out more than one batter per inning and kept his ERA in the mid-4s while mostly avoiding the longball. If he can deliver more of the same, he'll be outpitching expectations. Reds hitters saw plenty of him when he was Pirate, but no one's numbers really jump off stat sheet. Votto boasts .387 average in 31 ABs, but that came with no homeruns and only 1 RBI.
Tyler Mahle took a big step forward in the shortened 2020 season and has continued with a spectacular April of 2021. Combined across that stretch he's put together 73.1 innings in which he's struck out 96 and had a 2.95 ERA. That's a solid half season of work. No Cub hitters have really thrived against him. Heyward, Rizzo, and Contreras are a combined 7 for 50.
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