Cubs at Reds
The Chicago Cubs will try to notch another series victory over the Cincinnati Reds when the National League Central rivals wrap up a four-game set Sunday in Cincinnati. The Cubs are 42-19 against the Reds since the start of the 2015 season after splitting a doubleheader with Cincinnati on Saturday.
Chicago has taken two of the first three games of the series to improve to 22-10 at Great American Ball Park over the past three-plus seasons. The Reds claimed a rare win over the Cubs on Billy Hamilton’s bases-loaded walk in the 11th inning for a 5-4 victory in the opener of Saturday’s twinbill. Chicago dominated the nightcap 10-0 and has outscored Cincinnati 22-6 in the first three games of the series. The Reds have lost four of their last six following a six-game winning streak, while the Cubs have alternated losses and wins in their past six contests.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, ABC 7 (Chicago), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Yu Darvish (0-3, 5.56 ERA) vs. Reds RH Tyler Mahle (3-5, 4.34)
Darvish experienced cramping in his right calf Tuesday at Atlanta and was pulled after four innings for precautionary reasons. The 31-year-old has lasted six innings only twice in his first seven starts with the Cubs. Darvish is 1-0 with a 2.13 ERA in two starts against the Reds.
Mahle is coming off his shortest outing of the season after allowing four runs and seven hits in 3 1/3 innings in a loss at San Francisco on Tuesday. The 23-year-old has struck out 46 and walked 16 in 47 2/3 innings, but he has allowed 10 home runs in nine starts. Mahle dominated the Cubs in his season debut, striking out seven and allowing one hit over six scoreless innings in a win.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cubs OF Ian Happ homered in both games of Saturday’s doubleheader, the first Cubs player to do so since Chris Coghlan in 2014.
2. Reds 2B Scooter Gennett has hit safely in 10 of his last 12 games, including seven multi-hit games.
3. The Cubs have homered in 21 of their past 25 games at Great American Ball Park.