Game One Hundred Thirty-One: Cubs (74-56) vs. Reds (54-76)
- Game Time – 7:05pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: WGN-TV Ch. 9 – Radio: WBBM 780, Cubs Radio Network, XM Radio Channels 185, 844
- Location – Wrigley Field, Chicago
Dan Haren (8-9, 3.90/1.15/4.90) vs. Anthony DeSclafani (7-10, 3.84/1.36/3.98)
The Cubs look to get back on track tonight against a Reds team that has given them all they can handle this season. Even with dropping five of the last six games to close out the month, the Cubs finished August with a 19-9 record … the most wins in a single month for the franchise since the 2008 Cubs went 20-8 in August.
Joe Maddon turns to Dan Haren and with two extra arms in the pen that can give him innings, if Haren struggles early Maddon could have a quick hook. Haren was effective over his last three-plus innings in San Francisco and is looking to build on the way he finished up against the Giants.
The Cubs will have five new faces in the clubhouse tonight. Javier Baez, Austin Jackson, Quintin Berry, Trevor Cahill and Tsuyoshi Wada will be added to the active roster. It will be interesting to see if Maddon inserts Baez and Jackson into his starting lineup. The offense has struggled over the last week, especially with runners in scoring position and the Cubs face a starter tonight they’ve had very little success against this season.
Early runs will go a long way for the Cubs. Pat Hughes will be back on the radio side with Ron Coomer and Mark Grote … and Joe Maddon said he will have his team ready to play.
Tonight starts with Dan Haren …
Dan Haren matched up against Madison Bumgarner his last time out. Haren struggled in the first three innings, received little help from his defense and took the loss in the finale in San Francisco. Haren settled down after the third inning and pitched into the seventh. Haren allowed five runs on six hits with three walks and four strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. Haren said after the game he is not holding up his end of the deal with the Cubs.
The Cubs need for him to build off the final 3 1/3 innings of his last outing tonight. The backend of the rotation is taking its toll on the bullpen. And Dan Haren has shown this year he is capable of more than he has given the Cubs over the last five starts.
Haren is 1-2 in his five starts with the Cubs with a 6.31 ERA and 1.44 WHIP. Haren has allowed 19 runs, 18 earned, on 31 hits with six walks, eight home runs and 20 strikeouts in 25 2/3 innings.
Dan Haren is 5-4 in 11 career appearances, 10 starts, versus the Reds with a 4.26 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. Haren makes his third start of the season against the Reds tonight. Haren is 1-1 in the first two with a 2.19 ERA and 1.14 WHIP. Haren lost to the Reds on June 19 at Great American. Haren allowed two runs on four hits with two walks and six strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. Cincy beat Miami 5-0. Haren topped the Reds in Miami on July 12, 8-1. Haren gave up one run on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts in six innings.
Reds Numbers against Dan Haren in 2015
- Brandon Phillips: 1-for-6 with one double and one walk
- Jay Bruce: 1-for-5 with one double and one walk
- Todd Frazier: 3-for-6 with two doubles
- Eugenio Suarez: 0-for-6
- Joey Votto: 0-for-3 with two walks
- Tucker Barnhart: 2-for-3 with one double
- Jason Bourgeois: 1-for-3
- Brayan Pena: 0-for-2 with one walk
- Skip Schumaker: 0-for-1
The Cubs get their fourth look of the season at Anthony DeSclafani tonight. And the young right hander has had a ton of success against the Cubs this season.
Anthony DeSclafani has put together a very good first year with the Reds. DeSclafani is coming off a loss to the Dodgers in which he allowed one run on six hits with a walk and six strikeouts in seven innings. DeSclafani has six quality starts in his last seven outings.
DeSclafani is 1-3 in his last five starts with a 4.20 ERA and 1.43 WHIP … and on the road this year, DeSclafani is 4-3 in 13 starts with a 2.60 ERA and 1.19 WHIP.
The Cubs have done virtually nothing against Anthony DeSclafani in three tries this year. DeSclafani is 1-1 with a 0.98 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. In 18 1/3 innings, DeSclafani has allowed six runs, two earned, on 13 hits with six walks and 15 strikeouts.
Cubs Numbers against Anthony DeSclafani in 2015
- Dexter Fowler: 2-for-9
- Anthony Rizzo: 0-for-8 with one walk
- Starlin Castro: 2-for-7 with one walk
- Chris Coghlan: 2-for-6 with two doubles and two walks
- Kris Bryant: 1-for-6 with one double
- Miguel Montero: 2-for-4 with one home run and one walk
- Addison Russell: 2-for-4 with one double and one walk
- Jonathan Herrera: 0-for-2
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …