Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago Cubs Four Game Series Preview

Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago Cubs Four Game Series Preview

Ryan Knuppel
3 years ago
2 min read
Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago Cubs Four Game Series Preview

The Cincinnati Reds head to the North Side of Chicago on Monday to begin a four-game series against the Chicago Cubs. Taking a trip to Wrigley Field is never an easy task, but this could be a week that the Reds could do some damage.

The Cubs come into Monday night with a record of just 49-51. Chicago spent a large chunk of the season near the top of the NL Central Division, but a rough stretch has them virtually out of the playoff race.

Cincinnati enters this series with a record of 51-48, and they are still within striking distance of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Reds just took two of three from the St. Louis Cardinals and will look to keep that momentum going.

Pitching Must Contribute For Reds

Starting pitching continues to be a problem for the Reds, and it is something that must get figured out this week. The Reds currently have a team ERA of 4.55, and this team could use some help at the Trade Deadline.

The offense has continued to do some major damage for the Reds, and the lineup is what could keep the Reds in the NL Central race for the remainder of the season. Cincinnati is top-10 in baseball in most offensive categories, and the outfielders continue to do the most damage.

If the wind is blowing out this week at Wrigley Field, then the Reds could do some damage by playing long ball against the Cubs pitching staff.

Will Cubs Be Sellers?

It is a strange time to be a Cubs player or fan as seemingly everyone is waiting around for the Trade Deadline. The Cubs have some extremely valuable pieces to be had, but it’s unclear as to what players will be traded before the deadline.

The bullpen of the Cubs has been tremendous all season long, and the Cubs have a team ERA of 4.11. Kyle Hendricks starts the series opener, and he has gone 12-4 with an impressive 3.61 ERA.

Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo hit back-to-back home runs on Sunday afternoon, and they have hit the Reds well in the past. This Cubs team can be scary on offense, but it’s unclear how many stars will be in the lineup.

Chance to Win the Series

The balance of power has shifted in the National League Central, and the Cubs are no longer the top team in the division. This is a great opportunity for the Reds to head into Wrigley Field and take advantage, and winning three of the four games in this series is definitely in play.

The Cubs do still have plenty of power in that lineup, and that could give the Reds some trouble this week at Wrigley Field. It’s unclear how long Chicago will keep those stars on the team, but Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo can always do some damage.

Cincinnati should be able to put some runs on the board this week against the Cubs starters, but they don’t want to fall behind early. If the Reds are able to get some solid starting pitching, then this could be a chance to gain ground in the NL Central race.

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