Both teams get set for the second game of a holiday weekend series at the Friendly Confines.
Cincinnati Reds at Chicago Cubs
Cincinnati won its ninth consecutive extra-innings road game with a 3-2 win over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. The Reds continue to show why their the best team in baseball in tight games with 15 final-at-bat wins. Thursday’s game marked the beginning of the team’s longest road trip of the season, which will last until the All-Star break. The lineup tallied 16 hits in the game, but still stranded 13 runners on base while going 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Cincinnati moved its road record to 18-16 on the season (+320) and continues to be rock solid 23-14 against divisional foes (+890).
Reds starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo is 7-4 with a 4.49 ERA in 16 starts this season (+300). The right-hander is 4-2 with a 4.78 ERA in eight road outings (+460), with the team posting victories in his last two appearances away from Great American Ball Park. He will be making his 20th career appearance (18th start) against the Cubs, going 7-6 with a 3.06 ERA, including a 4-3 mark and 3.88 ERA in nine outings at Wrigley Field. After posting a dismal 1-2 mark and 6.37 ERA in five April starts, he has bounced back with a 6-2 record over the last two months.
Chicago is falling like a rock in the NL Central after dropping its 11th straight series opener, sitting 10.5 games back of Cincinnati. “We just don’t seem to come up with the big hit when we need it,” Cubs manager Lou PIniella said. The Cubs batted .249 in June and scored just 92 runs. Only the Nationals (91) and Pirates (82) scored fewer runs in the National League. Chicago still has a chance of producing some kind of momentum heading into the All-Star break, with 15 of their next 24 games set to be played at Wrigley Field. Over the last four Julys, the Cubs have tallied a winning record during the month. Last year, Chicago was 18-9 in July and the club owns a 50-29 record in the month under Lou Piniella.
Cubs starting pitcher Ryan Dempster is an even 6-6 with a 3.58 ERA in 16 starts (-790), with the club alternating wins and losses over his last seven outings. The right-hander captured an 8-6 road victory over the Chicago White Sox last time out, allowing three earned runs and nine hits over seven innings. He carries a 5-5 record and 4.29 ERA in 36 career appearances (12 starts) against the Reds, which includes picking up a loss at the Great American Ball Park on May 9. In that start, he surrendered five earned runs and six hits in seven frames.
Bettors will find no advantage in playing either team based on daytime numbers, with the Reds standing at an even 13-13 (-180) and the Cubs currently 18-22 (-1,070). Playing the road underdog offers value in Friday’s contest based on the home team being 20-31 against right-handed starters (-1,660).
