Kyle Hendricks (6-6, 4.11 ERA) and Michael Lorenzen (3-8, 5.46 ERA) take the hill in the first of a three-game series between the Chicago Cubs (74-55) and the Cincinnati Reds (53-76) at Wrigley Field. Action begins at 8:05 p.m. ET on Monday, Aug. 31 and can be seen on CSCh and FSOH.
Hendricks pitched 6.0 innings in his last outing, surrendering four runs, striking out six and walking three in a 4-2 defeat to the Giants. Anthony Rizzo (.284, 73 Rs, 26 HRs, 78 RBIs, 15 SBs) went 1 for 4 yesterday. Lorenzen went 1.1 innings, surrendering seven runs, striking out one and walking two in an 11-6 defeat to the Padres in his most recent start. Joey Votto (.312, 76 Rs, 25 HRs, 65 RBIs, 8 SBs) has been successful at the plate for the Reds, going 2 for 3 yesterday.
The odds for Chicago and Cincinnati are even, while the Over/Under (O/U) is unavailable as of now. Within its division, Chicago has a record of 29-22 SU. Chicago leads the whole NL in walks, earning an average of 3.4 per game. As for the pitchers, opposing offenses have been stifled by the Cubs, who have a team ERA of only 3.57. The Cubs are the fifth-best team in the league at limiting hits and walks to their opponents, recording a WHIP of 1.20 so far this season.
The Reds are 23-28 against NL Central foes. The Reds are an excellent base-stealing team with an MLB-best 116 stolen bases. The Reds allow 4.5 runs per game, but have damaged those numbers in the past 10 games, allowing 5.7 runs per game during that span. When it comes to preventing batters from getting hits, the Reds are third in the NL on the road with an average of 8.1 hits allowed per away game.
The Cubs have controlled the season series, 9-4. The Cubs have a 15-13 record against left-handed starting pitchers on the year, which is what they’ll be facing when Lorenzen takes the mound. Hendricks (RHP) will be on the hill against the Reds, who have a 41-57 record against right-handed starting pitchers.
Predictions: SU Winner – ChC
Notes
Chicago earned its 15th shutout of the season in its last game. Cincinnati has been shut out 12 times this season.
The Cubs are coming into this game after allowing one walk during their last outing. The Reds have a 6-16 record when opponents give up that many walks or fewer.
When they are outhit, the Reds are 8-54. The Cubs have a 16-41 record when opponents outhit them.
Ranking 12th in home runs, Chicago has hit 134 this season. Cincinnati ranks 10th with 135 home runs.
Ranking 15th, Chicago is in the top half of the league in hits, notching 8.08 per game. Cincinnati ranks in the top 10 at ninth with 8.50.
Chicago and Cincinnati both rank in the bottom half of the league for their on-base plus slugging percentage. Chicago sits at 19th with an OPS of .710 and Cincinnati ranks 18th with an OPS of .712.
When the Reds allow at least one home run, they are 23-59. When the Cubs allow one or more homers, they have a 34-36 record.
