Game Seventeen: Cubs (12-4) vs. Reds (8-8)
- Game Time – 6:10pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: WGN-TV – Radio: WSCR 670 The Score, Cubs Radio Network, XM Radio Channels 185, 844
- Location – Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati
Jon Lester (1-1, 2.21/0.83/3.03) vs. Jon Moscot (0-0, 4.76/1.23/7.97)
Weather permitting … The Cubs will look to stay on track against the Reds tonight behind Jon Lester.
The Cubs offense broke out with a big night Thursday with 16 runs on 18 hits, and five of those left the yard at Great American. Kris Bryant hit a pair of home runs and drove in six, Anthony Rizzo, Ben Zobrist and David Ross all went yard behind Jake Arrieta. On any other night, Bryant would have been the story. But not Thursday with Arrieta tossing the no-no.
Jon Lester had a rough outing against the Reds and will have to be on top of his game tonight. Billy Hamilton and the Reds will make Lester field his position and if they get on base, it will be up to David Ross to shut down the running game.
Joe Maddon should use a balanced starting lineup tonight against Jon Moscot. The Cubs have zero history with the right-hander. And in the big leagues, righties (.250/.282/.472/.754) have had pretty much the same success as lefties (.250/.351/.438/.789) against him.
Tonight all starts with Jon Lester …
Jon Lester was very good his last time out. Lester pitched into the eighth inning against the Rockies and allowed one run on four hits, the lone run was a Nolan Arenado solo homer. Lester walked two and struck out a season-high 10 batters in 7 1/3 innings.
Tonight is Lester’s fourth start of the season, and two of the first three have been what is should be expected from the lefty. Lester has allowed five runs on 13 hits with four walks and 19 strikeouts in 20 1/3 innings this year.
Lester makes his second start of the season against the Reds. Lester struggled on Opening Night at Wrigley and gave up three runs on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts in six innings. Lester must do a better job tonight of pitching ahead in the count and not allow Billy Hamilton to be a factor.
Jon Lester is 1-0 in five career starts against the Reds with a 3.82 ERA and 0.94 WHIP … and at Great American Ball Park, he is 1-0 in two starts with a 2.57 ERA and 0.64 WHIP.
Reds Career Numbers against Jon Lester
- Jay Bruce: 2-for-14 with one double
- Brandon Phillips: 6-for-15 with one double
- Joey Votto: 3-for-12 with one double and one triple
- Eugenio Suarez: 1-for-11 with one home run
- Zack Cozart: 2-for-6
- Billy Hamilton: 5-for-7 with one double and one home run
- Adam Duvall: 0-for-4 with one walk
- Ivan DeJesus Jr.: 0-for-4
- Tyler Holt: 1-for-3
- Devin Mesoraco: 0-for-2 with one walk
The Cubs get their first look at Jon Moscot. The 24-year old right hander makes his second start of the season tonight and his fourth career start in the majors.
Moscot faced the Cardinals five days ago. Moscot allowed three runs on six hits with a walk and two strikeouts. Jedd Gyorko and Matt Carpenter took him deep.
In four starts in the big leagues, Moscot is 1-1 with a 4.67 ERA and 1.33 WHIP (nine runs on 17 hits with six walks, eight strikeouts and four home runs allowed).
Last season at Triple-A Louisville, Moscot was 7-1 in nine starts with a 3.31 ERA and 1.27 WHIP. Moscot gave up 20 runs, 19 earned, on 50 hits with 19 walks and 34 strikeouts in 54 1/3 innings.
No one on Joe Maddon’s active roster has faced Jon Moscot in a regular season big league game.
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …