The Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds are at opposite ends of the National League hierarchy, but you wouldn't know it based on their head-to-head record. The surging Reds will try for a third straight win over the visiting Cubs as they look to continue playing spoiler on Saturday.
After claiming the first two contests of the four-game series, the Reds are 4-3 against the Cubs this season, making them one of only three teams with a winning record versus Chicago. Cincinnati has won five straight overall – one shy of its longest streak of the year – and is hitting .322 with nine homers and 34 runs scored during the stretch. The Reds will try to keep up the hot hitting against Luke Farrell, whose spot start further depletes a bullpen that already is missing Carl Edwards Jr. and closer Brandon Morrow. The Cubs have dropped four of their last six contests to fall two games behind first-place Milwaukee in the NL Central.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, ABC 7 (Chicago), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Luke Farrell (2-2, 3.63 ERA) vs. Reds RH Anthony DeSclafani (2-1, 4.60)
Farrell will make his first start of the season and the second of his career. The 27-year-old has made 12 relief appearances this year, including one against the New York Mets on June 2 in which he worked five scoreless frames in a 14-inning victory. Farrell, who pitched out of the bullpen nine times for the Reds last season, never has faced his former team.
DeSclafani is making his fourth start as he works his way back from a left oblique strain that cost him the first two months of the season. The 28-year-old put together his best outing Sunday at Pittsburgh, allowing two runs and three hits over 5 2/3 innings to record the win. DeSclafani is 2-2 with a 3.70 ERA in seven career starts against the Cubs.
WALK-OFFS
1. Reds 3B Eugenio Suarez is 15-for-44 with five homers and 12 RBIs during his career-best 12-game hitting streak.
2. Suarez has averaged a home run every 13.56 at-bats, while Cubs LF Kyle Schwarber has gone deep once every 14.2 at-bats – two of the three best ratios in the NL behind Washington’s Bryce Harper.
3. Chicago 1B Anthony Rizzo’s 24 home runs against the Reds are fourth-most among active players, trailing Albert Pujols (47), Ryan Braun (41) and Andrew McCutchen (29).