Game Eighty-Four: Cubs (52-31) vs. Reds (31-54)
- Game Time – 1:20pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: Comcast SportsNet – Radio: WSCR 670 The Score, Cubs Radio Network, XM Radio Channels 186, 844
- Location – Wrigley Field, Chicago
Adam Warren, RHP (3-1, 4.56/1.40/5.43) vs. Anthony DeSclafani, RHP (2-0, 1.78/1.28/3.70)
Weather permitting … Adam Warren makes his first start of the season this afternoon as the Cubs look to get back in the win column. The Cubs played a sloppy game and allowed Billy Hamilton to have another big day at the plate and on the bases. The Cubs must start playing better ball. Joe Maddon’s team appears to be limping into the All-Star break. There are five games left on the schedule before some much needed time off. Finishing strong what has been a good first half of the season is a must.
Adam Warren faces the challenge of keeping Hamilton and the Big Red Machine off the scoreboard while the offense figures out Anthony DeSclafani. The Cubs are not hitting with runners in scoring position, an area the team seemed to excel at earlier in the year when the relentless offense kept the pressure on the opposition.
This is Day 20 of 24 straight for the Cubs, at least four wins in the next five games would make for an enjoyable break for the team, media and fan base.
The Cubs are celebrating 100 years of the team playing at Wrigley Field. The Cubs and Reds will wear 1916 throwback uniforms today. The Cubs and Reds squared off for the first time at what is now Wrigley Field on April 20, 1916.
Today all starts with Adam Warren …
Adam Warren makes his first start for the Cubs this afternoon in the series finale with the Reds. Warren was very effective a year ago for the Yankees in the starting rotation.
Warren made 17 starts last season for Joe Girardi and was 6-6 with a 3.66 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. Warren allowed 42 runs, 39 earned, on 87 hits with 30 walks and 67 strikeouts in 96 innings.
After a good start to this season pitching out of the Cubs’ pen, Warren had issues in 11 games in May and started to turn it around in seven appearances in June. Warren has allowed 14 runs, 13 earned in 25 2/3 innings this year in 25 games. Walks (14) and home runs (4) have really hurt Warren. He must not help the Reds today and, of course, keep the ball in the yard.
Warren made two starts for Triple-A Iowa. Warren allowed four runs on six hits with four walks and six strikeouts in 8 2/3 innings (4.15 ERA, 1.15 WHIP). Warren made 73 pitches, 47 for strikes, in his last start in Iowa on June 30.
Adam Warren has faced the Reds twice this season and in two innings he allowed one hit, no runs and did not walk a batter while striking out one.
The Reds have very little experience with Adam Warren. In fact, no one on Bryan Price’s active roster has more than one career at-bat against him. Tucker Barnhart (0-for-1), Ivan DeJesus Jr. (0-for-1), Adam Duvall (0-for-1), Brandon Phillips (0-for-1), Eugenio Suarez (0-for-1) and Joey Votto (1-for-1) each have a plate appearance against the Cubs’ right-hander.
Anthony DeSclafani spent the first two months-plus of the season on the DL and he’s been really good since he’s been back in the Reds’ rotation. DeSclafani has had the Cubs number and will look to keep it up today.
DeSclafani limited the Nationals to two runs on six hits with two walks and eight strikeouts his last time out. And in three starts outside of Great American Ball Park this year, he is 1-0 with a 2.76 ERA and 1.41 WHIP.
Today is DeSclafani’s seventh career start against the Cubs, first this season. DeSclafani is 1-2 in six starts with a 3.57 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. And at Wrigley Field, Anthony DeSclafani is 1-0 in three starts with a 1.89 ERA and 0.95 WHIP (four runs, 12 hits, six walks, 17 strikeouts, 19 innings).
The Cubs must make DeSclafani work. The offense has its work cut out for itself with Anthony DeSclafani on the mound.
Cubs Career Numbers against Anthony DeSclafani
- Anthony Rizzo: 1-for-17 with one double and one walk
- Kris Bryant: 4-for-12 with one double
- Jason Heyward: 3-for-8 with one walk
- Addison Russell: 3-for-8 with one double and one walk
- Miguel Montero: 2-for-6 with one home run and one walk
- David Ross: 1-for-5 with one double
- Javier Baez: 0-for-2
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …