Cubs and Reds Meet in Critical Weekend Series

CINCINNATI, Ohio — The Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds are set to face off this weekend in a crucial National League Central division series at Great American Ball Park. The matchup comes at a pivotal time as both teams vie for playoff positioning.

The Reds, who had a strong start this season, fell from second place after losing nine of their last eleven games in early May. However, they recently put together a five-game winning streak, only to drop the last two games of a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Reds’ pitching staff has shown promise, ranking third overall in fWAR by starters with 5.5. Ace Hunter Greene is expected to return to the mound Friday, boasting a 2.66 ERA since the start of the 2024 season, which ranks fourth among 94 MLB pitchers who have logged at least 160 innings. Left-handed pitchers Nick Lodolo and Andrew Abbott have also been effective this season, adding depth to the starting rotation.

Despite their strong pitching, the Reds’ offense has struggled, highlighted by their inability to maintain consistent scoring. They’ve been shut out eight times this year and have low scoring games that tie for the most in the league. The Reds’ hitting coach, Chris Valaika, will be looking for ways to unlock their potential as injuries have plagued the roster.

This series is a must-win for the Reds if they intend to challenge for the division title. Manager Wick Terrell stated, “Anything less than a series victory could leave us in a bad position.”

The Cubs are entering the series after sweeping the White Sox at home and have not faced the Cardinals yet this season. The last matchup between these two teams saw the Cubs struggle in Cincinnati, with a 24-34 record against the Reds since 2018.

The starting pitchers for the series include Matthew Boyd for the Cubs against Hunter Greene on Friday, Colin Rea against Andrew Abbott on Saturday, and Ben Brown against Nick Lodolo on Sunday. The first game of the series begins tonight at 5:40 p.m. CT, with broadcasting on Marquee Sports Network.

This matchup is significant beyond just the standings; it could determine the trajectory of both teams as they look to solidify their positions for the rest of the season.