Cincinnati Reds (22-29, fifth in the NL Central) vs. Chicago Cubs (22-28, third in the NL Central)
Chicago; Saturday, 7:15 p.m. EDT
PITCHING PROBABLES: Reds: Brandon Williamson (0-0, 3.60 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, nine strikeouts); Cubs: Jameson Taillon (0-3, 7.76 ERA, 1.73 WHIP, 27 strikeouts)
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Cubs -169, Reds +144; over/under is 8 1/2 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Cincinnati Reds play the Chicago Cubs leading the series 1-0.
Chicago is 22-28 overall and 13-13 in home games. The Cubs have the 10th-best team slugging percentage in MLB play at .420.
Cincinnati has a 22-29 record overall and an 8-15 record in road games. The Reds are 18-5 in games when they scored at least five runs.
Saturday's game is the fourth meeting between these teams this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Nico Hoerner has eight doubles, a triple and three home runs for the Cubs. Seiya Suzuki is 13-for-36 with two doubles and five home runs over the past 10 games.
Spencer Steer leads Cincinnati with six home runs while slugging .478. Matt McLain is 13-for-40 with two home runs and six RBI over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Cubs: 3-7, .218 batting average, 5.61 ERA, outscored by 19 runs
Reds: 4-6, .275 batting average, 4.45 ERA, even run differential
INJURIES: Cubs: Nick Burdi: 15-Day IL (appendicitis), Cody Bellinger: 10-Day IL (knee), Adrian Sampson: 60-Day IL (right meniscus), Brad Boxberger: 15-Day IL (forearm), Codi Heuer: 60-Day IL (elbow), Ethan Roberts: 60-Day IL (elbow)
Reds: Wil Myers: 10-Day IL (kidney stones), Henry Ramos: 10-Day IL (hip), Derek Law: 15-Day IL (elbow), Joey Votto: 60-Day IL (bicep/shoulder), Reiver Sanmartin: 60-Day IL (elbow), Nick Lodolo: 15-Day IL (calf), Casey Legumina: 15-Day IL (ankle), Connor Overton: 60-Day IL (elbow), Tony Santillan: 60-Day IL (back), Justin Dunn: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Tejay Antone: 60-Day IL (elbow), Vladimir Gutierrez: 60-Day IL (elbow)
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
