Game Ninety-Two: Cubs (49-42) vs. Reds (41-49)
- Game Time – 6:10pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: Comcast SportsNet, MLB Network – Radio: WBBM 780, Cubs Radio Network, XM Radio Channels 186, 844
- Location – Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati
Jason Hammel (5-4, 2.86/0.95/3.05) vs. Raisel Iglesias (1-2, 5.90/1.52/3.23)
Weather permitting … The Cubs will look to get back in the win column tonight behind Jason Hammel. And all eyes will be on the veteran right-hander as he makes his first start since tightness in his left hamstring ended his last game after only one inning. The Cubs appear to have dodged a huge injury with Hammel. He says he is ready to go, but Hammel will wear a brace on his left knee tonight. The Cubs are looking for pitching, losing Hammel would be a bigger loss than many realize.
Kyle Schwarber is expected to be in the starting lineup and behind the plate tonight. And based on the splits, Joe Maddon must load his lineups with lefties, including finding a spot for Jonathan Herrera. Raisel Iglesias has held right handers to a .226/.281/.414 line but left handers have batted .354/.417/.370 against him.
Tonight all starts with Jason Hammel …
Jason Hammel said all of the right things over the weekend in Atlanta. Hammel completed a bullpen session with Kyle Schwarber and said he felt 100 percent after leaving his last start back on July 8 with tightness in his left hamstring. Hammel avoided the DL thanks to the All-Star break and the Cubs pushed him back a day in order to give him a little extra recovery time.
Hammel was very good during his last full start on July 3 against the Marlins at Wrigley. Hammel was on the short end of a 2-1 game and both mistakes he made left the park. Hammel gave up two runs on four hits with a walk and five strikeouts in seven innings.
On the road this season, Hammel is 4-3 in nine starts with a 3.46 ERA and 1.01 WHIP. Hammel faces the Reds for the second time tonight. Hammel allowed four runs, two earned, on seven hits with three walks and four strikeouts in five innings in a 5-4 loss.
Jason Hammel is 0-1 in six career appearances, five starts, against the Reds with a 4.98 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. At Great American Ball Park, Hammel is 0-1 in two starts with a 7.36 ERA and 1.36 WHIP.
Reds Career Numbers against Jason Hammel
- Joey Votto: 2-for-14 with one double, one home run and three walks
- Marlon Byrd: 4-for-12 with one double and one walk
- Brandon Phillips: 4-for-11 with one double
- Jay Bruce: 3-for-10 with one double and one home run
- Skip Schumaker: 2-for-5 with two walks
- Todd Frazier: 2-for-6 with one double and one home run
- Brayan Pena: 1-for-5
- Ivan DeJesus Jr.: 1-for-2 with one double and one walk
- Eugenio Suarez: 0-for-2
- Billy Hamilton: 0-for-2
The Cubs get their first look at rookie right hander Raisel Iglesias, who is making his sixth career start in the majors tonight. Iglesias struggled in his outing against the Marlins and allowed five runs on eight hits with no walks and two strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.
Iglesias made six starts for Triple-A Louisville this season. And he was 1-3 with a 3.41 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. Iglesias struck out 21 batters and issued eight walks in 29 innings. At the big league level, the 25-year old right hander has allowed 19 runs on 35 hits with nine walks and 27 strikeouts in 29 innings.
Raisel Iglesias is 1-0 in four games, three starts, in his big league home ballpark with a 4.35 ERA and 1.21 WHIP.
No one on Joe Maddon’s active roster has faced Raisel Iglesias in a regular season game in the majors.
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …