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The Cubs opened the 2023 regular season with a win before dropping the next two home games in a competitive series with the Milwaukee Brewers. Dansby Swanson put an uneventful Spring Training behind him, going 7-11. Ian Happ also had a hot series, reaching base 7 times and tallying the first Cubs homerun of the season. Patrick Wisdom's 2 homeruns in the Sunday loss made up most of the rest of the Cubs' offense. Cody Bellinger is still in search of his first knock as a Cub. The squad will move on to their first road series against another NL Central opponent, the Cincinnati Reds. See below for the matchups.
Game 4: Monday, April 3, 5:40 pm central
CHC: LHP Drew Smyly (0-0, -.--)
CIN: RHP Connor Overton (0-0, -.--)
Drew Smyly put up solid numbers for the Cubs in 2022 when on the mound. Difficulties remaining healthy prevented him from the opportunity to bolster a contender's rotation at the deadline.
29-year-old righty Connor Overton made his MLB debut in 2021 and has collected 7 MLB starts and 8 appearances in relief since then. He's collected only 29 strikeouts in 48.1 innings pitched, but has held opponents to a .208 batting average in that time.
Game 5: Tuesday, April 4, 5:40 pm central
CHC: RHP Hayden Wesneski (0-0, -.--)
CIN: RHP Luis Cessa (0-0, -.--)
Hayden Wesneski had a dominant Spring Training and showed off what you can do when you lean on a plus-plus slider while all the vets are still warming up to the idea of baseball. He has at least a month to force the issue of remaining in the rotation while Kyle Hendricks continues to build up for the season.
Cessa made 10 starts for the Reds in 2022 after having appeared exclusively out of the bullpen in the three prior seasons. He posted a 4.57 ERA across those 10 starts and 34 appearances in relief. Since 2019 he has leaned heavily on a sinker-slider combo.
Game 6: Wednesday, April 5, 11:45 am central
CHC: RHP Marcus Stroman (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
CIN: RHP Hunter Greene (0-0, 8.10 ERA)
Stroman was great in his first Opening Day start as a Cub, throwing 6 scoreless innings and striking out 8 en route to the Cubs only win of the series. He walked three, but warmer temperatures in Cincinnati should aid his feel in his second start.
Hunter Greene, a 6'5" righty, graduated from prospecthood in 2022, making 26 starts with the Reds. He sits around 99 mph with a fastball that he understandably throws over half the time, and he complements that with a slider that averages about 90 miles per hour.
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