Game One Hundred Fifty-Eight: Cubs (92-65) vs. Reds (63-94)
- Game Time – 6:10pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: WGN-TV Ch. 9 – Radio: WBBM 780, Cubs Radio Network, XM Radio Channels 186, 844
- Location – Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati
Jon Lester (10-12, 3.43/1.15/3.01) vs. Anthony DeSclafani (9-12, 3.91/1.33/3.68)
Weather permitting … Joe Maddon turns to Jon Lester tonight as the Cubs look to take game two in Cincinnati and finish September with a win. The Cubs are 18-9 this month, the most victories in September for a Cubs team since 2003 (19-8).
Jon Lester is looking for a strong finish to what has been a good regular season for the lefty. David Ross will be behind the plate for the next two days with the Cubs facing a lefty in the finale on Thursday.
The Cubs could use a good game at the plate, especially with runners on third base and less than two outs. The Cubs left the Reds in the game too long last night. As Joe Maddon says, the Cubs must move the baseball when runners are at third and the opposition is conceding the run.
Maddon should run out a balanced lineup tonight. Anthony DeSclafani has owned the Cubs this season and will look to finish his year on a positive note. Right-handers have hit .277/.310/.345 against him this year while left-handers have batted .265/.337/.388.
Tonight all starts with Jon Lester …
Jon Lester had a good outing the last time out against the Pirates. Lester made two mistakes and it cost him two runs in a 3-2 loss to the Bucs. Lester allowed two runs on five hits with no walks and six strikeouts in seven innings.
Over his last five starts, Jon Lester is 2-2 with a 2.65 ERA and 0.88 WHIP. Lester has allowed 10 runs on 23 hits with seven walks and 32 strikeouts in 34 innings.
Outside of Wrigley Field this year, Lester is 3-3 in 11 starts with a 3.13 ERA and 1.04 WHIP, and since the break, Lester is 6-4 in 13 starts with a 3.22 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. In 86 2/3 innings, Lester has allowed 31 runs on 71 hits with 17 walks and 89 strikeouts.
Jon Lester makes his fourth start of the season against the Reds tonight. Lester has three no decisions with a 4.74 ERA and 1.11 WHIP. Lester has surrendered 10 runs on 20 hits with a walk and 18 strikeouts in 19 innings versus the Reds.
Reds Numbers against Jon Lester in 2015
- Jay Bruce: 2-for-9 with one double
- Todd Frazier: 2-for-8 with two doubles and one walk
- Brandon Phillips: 4-for-9
- Joey Votto: 2-for-9 with one double and one triple
- Brayan Pena: 1-for-8
- Eugenio Suarez: 0-for-3
- Anthony DeSclafani: 0-for-2
The Cubs get another crack at Anthony DeSclafani tonight. The young right-hander has had his way with the Cubs over five career starts. DeSclafani is coming off back-to-back rough outings. DeSclafani is either running out of gas or is just looking forward to the end of the season.
DeSclafani allowed seven runs, five earned, on nine hits with no walks and three strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. DeSclafani is 2-2 in his last five starts with a 4.25 ERA and 1.18 WHIP.
In 15 starts at Great American this year, DeSclafani is 5-8 with a 4.88 ERA and 1.45 WHIP. And he makes his fifth start of the year against the Cubs tonight.
The only team DeSclafani has pitched better against this season than the Cubs is the Cardinals. DeSclafani is 1-1 in four starts versus the Cubs this year with a 1.88 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. In 24 innings, DeSclafani has given up nine runs, five earned, on 17 hits with eight walks and 22 strikeouts.
Cubs Numbers against Anthony DeSclafani in 2015
- Anthony Rizzo: 0-for-14 with one walk
- Chris Coghlan: 3-for-9 with two doubles and three walks
- Dexter Fowler: 2-for-12
- Starlin Castro: 3-for-10 with one double and one walk
- Kris Bryant: 4-for-9 with one double
- Miguel Montero: 2-for-6 with one home run and one walk
- Addison Russell: 2-for-6 with one double and one walk
- Jorge Soler: 1-for-6
- Jonathan Herrera: 0-for-2
- David Ross: 1-for-3 with one double
- Kyle Schwarber: 1-for-2 with one walk
- Javier Baez: 0-for-2
- Jon Lester: 0-for-2
- Tommy La Stella: 0-for-1
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …