Right-hander John Lackey will face the Cincinnati
Reds for the second consecutive start tonight when the Chicago
Cubs open a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds at Great
American Ball Park.
Lackey hopes to build off the success he had against Cincinnati on
Wednesday when he did not allow a home run for the first time since
July 25 and for just the fifth time in his 23 starts this season.
That is no simple feat against the Reds, who feature five players
with 20 or more home runs, tying a single-season franchise record
set in 2008 and 1956.
The Cubs (66-57) are leading the National League Central by a slim
2 1/2-game margin over the second-place Milwaukee Brewers heading
into the opener of a three-game series at Great American
Ball Park tonight.
Manager Joe Maddon is doing everything he can to keep his players
loose and help recapture some of the excitement and energy that
propelled them to a World Series title last year. Last week was
Maddon's signature "American Legion Week" when he allows players to
show up at the ballpark much later than usual.
"We're going to keep it rolling, absolutely," Maddon told MLB.com
on Sunday before his team finished off a three-game sweep of the
Toronto Blue Jays at Wrigley Field. "This time of the year, all the
extra noise is not necessary. Batting practice, being on the field
too early, showing up too soon -- it doesn't matter. Just be a
person, show up, and then do your job, do your work, and you can
work more intelligently."
The Cubs and Reds split a four-game series at Wrigley Field last
week. Chicago has won 26 of the past 35 games against the Reds
(53-72), including eight of the past 11 series.
Lackey (10-9, 4.67 ERA) will need to contend with Reds first
baseman Joey Votto, who is been among the most consistent hitters
in baseball, especially against the Cubs. Votto is batting .367
against Chicago with three homers, five doubles and 13 RBIs in 13
games.
In 16 career starts against the Reds, Lackey owns a 6-5 record and
3.75 ERA. He got a no decision vs. Cincinnati on Wednesday after a
run on four hits in six innings, leaving him 1-1 with a 4.67 ERA in
three starts against the Reds this year.
Cincinnati hopes to have shortstop Zack Cozart back in the lineup
Tuesday after he missed games Saturday and Sunday due to a bruised
left shin. He was hit by a pitch from Atlanta Braves reliever Rex
Brothers on Friday.
"He didn't respond as well as we hoped," Reds manager Bryan Price
said Saturday.
Reds right-hander Homer Bailey (4-6, 8.44 ERA) draws the start
against the Cubs on Tuesday night. Bailey still is trying to find
some consistency after coming back in June and missing most of the
past two seasons following elbow and forearm surgeries.
Bailey allowed six runs with five walks and a home run in 5 2/3
innings against the Cubs at Wrigley last Wednesday, his lone
appearance against Chicago this year. He is 8-3 with a 4.66 ERA in
17 career starts vs. Chicago.
Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant should be looking forward to a
return visit to Great American Ball Park, where he is hitting .293
in his career with five home runs. He hit three homers and went
5-for-5 with six RBIs there on June 27, 2016.