THURSDAY FIRST 5 INNINGS PLAY (YTD 15-17)

[jimmythegreek]

Cincinnati/ChiCubs over 6.5 -115:
This afternoon marks the conclusion to what has been a wacky series thus far between Cincinnati (50-71) and the Chicago Cubs (63-56) whom are maintaining a one game lead in the NL Central heading into Thursday’s action. Blown leads, lots of runs with the exception of Tuesday night, and very vulnerable bullpen pitching not to mention the end of a milestone for one of the league’s marquee hitters. The Cubs blew a 6-1 7th inning lead last night and had to hold on with a game winning walk-off wild pitch by Blake Wood 7-6 at Wrigley. Anthony Rizzo’s grand slam, his 28th round tripper of the season in the bottom of the first painted a picture of what kind of night this was going to be as most Cubs fans sensed another rout. John Lackey was dominant outside a shaky first inning and went 6 strong allowing just a run on 4 hits walking 3 and striking out 6 despite the no-decision. However, homers by Philip Ervin and Zack Cosart off of normally reliable Hector Rondon cut the Chicago lead to 6-4 in the 7th. The Reds then tied it in the 8th on a 2 run shot by Adam Duvall, his 28th of the year before Wood’s wild pitch scored Javier Baez with the winning run for Chicago. Wade Davis (3-1) pitched a perfect ninth, while Wandy Peralta fell to 3-3 overall. After three night games to open this series we return to the more conventional start time this afternoon at the Ivy.


Jon Lester (8-7 3.99) gets the ball for the defending world champs and has seemingly run into some run support issues despite a couple of decent outings as of late. The 33 year old southpaw vet has struck out 25 batters over his last 3 outings but despite the 9 he fanned over his last start in Arizona he also took the loss. Lester only allowed 3 runs on 7 hits in 6 innings, but saw numerous run scoring opportunities squandered by Chicago in the middle innings. He looks to get back to his winning ways facing a Reds lineup that these days hasn’t has much of an issue plating runs at nearly 4.7 per contest. Batting .254 collectively overall, Cincy also has its share of power throughout the lineup as evident of their 171 HR that ranks 5th in the NL. Joey Votto (.315 31 83) saw his streak of reaching base at least twice in 20 straight games come to an end, but is still 7th in the NL in batting and RBI, and 3rd in HR. Billy Hamilton (.249 3 33) continues to rule the speed roost with his league leading 50 steals being caught just 9 times (85%). It’s the 4th consecutive season he’s accomplished the feat, but has just an overall .297 OBP, which could raise concerns about his future as a leadoff hitter. Duvall (.262 28 83) is tied for the team lead in RBI, and last night’s pinch hit blast will hopefully give the outfielder a boost as he was just 4 for his last 28 (.143). Eugenio Suarez Cosart(.262 20 60) has played well at the hot corner and could see time at shortstop over the final month and a half of the season. He’s hit safely in 6 of his last 7 games (.400). Cosart (.312 17 48) is batting .333 over the last week and second overall behind Votto in hitting on the club. Sccoter Gennett (.289 20 69) has just one homer over his last 20 games, but has hit the ball well like Cosart, at .333 over his last 7 games. Scott Schebler (.228 23 45) has begun a AAA rehab assignment with Louisville after suffering a shoulder injury. Expect feast or famine with Schebler, who has finally hit his weight but the majority of his long balls have been the majority of the solo variety.


The Redlegs counter with Scott Feldman (7-7 4.43) who hasn’t won since June 30th and continues to get roughed up in the short term yielding 12 earned over his last 10 innings pitched (10.80). Feldman faces a Cubs lineup that has been far from consistent compared to 2016’s World Series squad. Batting just .248 collectively, Chicago is averaging about 4.8 runs per contest and right below the Reds with 169 HR overall. No regulars on the roster are hitting .300, but Kris Bryant (.291 22 54) is closest despite numbers considerably down from last season. The third baseman has heated up though over the last week with 12 hits over a 5 game span (.480) before going hitless in the last 2. Rizzo (.265 28 80) has 2 more walks than strikeouts, and has a 3 game hitting streak going 6 for 12 (.500). Losing Wilson Contreras (.274 21 70) to a hamstring injury has been a glancing blow to the Cubs, as he has put up career highs in just his second season hopeful for a return in a week or so. Baez (.269 18 54) has really turned it on with 6 HR, 13 runs scored and 16 RBI over the past 17 games, one of those dingers off of Gennett in blowout mop up time. The production has been there consistently in Ian Happ (.243 15 39) and Kyle Schwarber (.197 19 39) in part time duty, but they must become effective more frequently and cut down on their strikeouts, which combined is approaching 200.


We get a modest price this afternoon in the friendly confines of Wrigley, looking a lot more modernized over the last 5 years than the more traditional theme that makes it the second oldest ballpark in baseball history. Temps are expected to be warm with humid conditions and accelerated winds in the early part of the day off the lake, which explains the higher than normal game total of 12. Couple that with two pitchers on the verge of desperation for a win and you have a recipe for a slugfest which seems to be the expected theme when these two teams meet. The Reds continue to play their spolier role, and Chicago looks to hold on in an NL Central race that has now extended to a 4 team race with about 42 games remaining. We look to avenge last night’s hard luck loss mired by poor base running choices and killed rallies early on. Best of luck however you play!

[slyone66]

gl jimmy

[jimmythegreek]

A 3 run HR by Joey Votto cashes this one easily with 2 outs in the top of the second all by Cincy's lonesome! Thanks and congrats to all that followed!