Game Sixteen: Cubs (11-4) vs. Reds (8-7)
- Game Time – 6:10pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: Comcast SportsNet – Radio: WSCR 670 The Score, Cubs Radio Network, XM Radio Channels 183, 844
- Location – Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati
Jake Arrieta (3-0, 1.23/0.77/2.69) vs. Brandon Finnegan (1-0, 2.04/1.01/4.41)
Weather permitting … The Cubs start a four-game series in Cincinnati tonight behind Jake Arrieta. The Cubs were 7-2 at Great American Ball Park a year ago.
The Cubs took two of three in St. Louis and must not let up against a Reds team that can put runs on the board. The Cubs swept the Reds at Wrigley Field last week and have Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester on the mound in the first two games. The Cubs offense will get another look at Brandon Finnegan and two Reds starters they have not faced before.
After the game one matchup of Arrieta and Finnegan, Jon Lester is scheduled to take on Jon Moscot on Friday. John Lackey faces former Cubs’ right-hander Dan Straily on Saturday night and the series wraps up Sunday with Jason Hammel opposing Alfredo Simon.
Joe Maddon said Wednesday that Jorge Soler and Addison Russell will be back in the starting lineup tonight against the lefty Finnegan on the hill.
Tonight all starts with Jake Arrieta …
Jake Arrieta shut down the Rockies his last time out. Arrieta pitched eight shutout innings and gave up five hits with a walk and eight strikeouts. Arrieta has issued only two free passes in three starts this season with 20 strikeouts.
Arrieta was on top of his game at Wrigley after showing he was human against Arizona the start before. Arrieta has allowed three runs on 15 hits, two home runs, in 22 innings.
Arrieta missed the Reds at Wrigley and faced Joey Votto and company only two times last season. Arrieta was 1-1 with a 3.55 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. At Great American Ball Park, Arrieta made one start and was 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA and 1.17 WHIP.
For his career, Arrieta is 3-2 in five starts versus the Reds with a 3.58 ERA and 0.92 WHIP … and just 1-1 in two starts at Great American Ball Park with a 7.20 ERA and 1.70 WHIP.
Reds Career Numbers against Jake Arrieta
- Billy Hamilton: 3-for-12 with one double and three walks
- Zack Cozart: 4-for-12 with one double
- Jay Bruce: 2-for-11 with one double
- Brandon Phillips: 4-for-11 with two doubles
- Joey Votto: 2-for-8 with one double and one walk
- Devin Mesoraco: 1-for-5 with two walks
- Tucker Barnhart: 0-for-1
The Cubs get a second shot at lefty Brandon Finnegan tonight. Finnegan handcuffed the Cubs lineup on Opening Night at Wrigley Field. Finnegan did not give up a hit until the seventh inning and provided the rest of the league a blueprint on how to quiet the Cubs offense. Finnegan was charged with two runs on one hit with five walks and five strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.
Finnegan did not fare as well his last time out. The Cardinals put four runs on the board against Finnegan, all unearned, on four hits and four walks. Finnegan struck out two in five innings.
In four starts this year, Finnegan has allowed eight runs, four earned, on eight hits with 10 walks and 16 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings.
Brandon Finnegan makes his second career start against the Cubs tonight.
Cubs Career Numbers against Brandon Finnegan
- Jason Heyward: 0-for-4
- Kris Bryant: 0-for-3
- Dexter Fowler: 0-for-3
- Anthony Rizzo: 0-for-2 with one walk
- David Ross: 1-for-2 with one walk
- Addison Russell: 0-for-2 with one walk
- Jorge Soler: 0-for-3
- Ben Zobrist: 0-for-3
- Matt Szczur: 1 walk
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …