The Chicago Cubs are expected to have one of the most potent lineups in the majors, which makes their early struggles all the more surprising. The slumping Cubs hope to break out of their offensive funk when they wrap up a two-game road set with the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday.
Chicago was limited to two hits in a 1-0 loss to the Reds on Monday – the Cubs’ second straight shutout loss – and has racked up a National League-record 58 strikeouts through five games, but manager Joe Maddon says the struggles are temporary. "We're going to be a really good offensive club," Maddon told reporters. "This is what is going on now." The Reds didn’t have much more going at the plate Monday, but Eugenio Suarez tripled and scored on Adam Duvall’s sacrifice fly for the only run of the game to give Cincinnati its first win. The running game might help the Reds get their offense going against Tuesday starter Jon Lester, who has a tough time holding runners.
TV: 6:40 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Jon Lester (0-0, 8.10 ERA) vs. Reds LH Cody Reed (2017: 1-1, 5.09)
Lester struggled on Opening Day against the Marlins, lasting only 3 1/3 innings and allowing four runs (three earned) and seven hits. The 34-year-old is a notoriously slow starter, as he’s 15-17 over his career in March and April but has a winning record in every other month. Lester is 5-1 with a 4.27 ERA in 13 starts against the Reds, including a 2-1 mark and 3.66 ERA in six outings at Great American Ball Park.
Reed was slated to begin the season in the bullpen, but Thursday’s rainout meant the Reds needed a fifth starter sooner than expected. The 24-year-old struggled during the spring but showed signs of reining in the control problems that plagued him a year ago, when he walked 19 batters in 17 2/3 innings across 12 appearances in the majors. Reed is 0-3 with a 16.20 ERA in three starts against the Cubs, who tagged him for seven runs in two innings in his only big-league start last year.
WALK-OFFS
1. Reds OF Billy Hamilton (7-for-19, two homers) and SS Jose Peraza (9-for-20) have enjoyed success against Lester.
2. Cubs 3B Kris Bryant (4-for-5, home run), C Willson Contreras (4-for-6, two homers) and 1B Anthony Rizzo (2-for-6, two homers) have hit Reed hard, while SS Addison Russell and CF Albert Almora Jr. also have taken him deep.
3. The Cubs are 7-for-51 with runners in scoring position through five games.