The Chicago Cubs (70-86) will be going for their fourth consecutive series win when they face the Cincinnati Reds (60-96) in the second game of their three-game series on Saturday afternoon.
Nick Lodolo, 4-7, 3.75 ERA, will get the start for the Reds. The Cubs have not announced their starter for the game.
Chicago and Cincinnati split their last 10 meetings.
**This preview was written before Friday’s game was played**
The Reds struggled over the past week, losing six of their last seven games. They will try to turn things around with a win over the Cubs, which will give them their second win in their last eight games.
Cincinnati is averaging 4.08 runs per game. Their .237 batting average is 21st in the league. Their .305 on base percentage is 23rd, while their .376 slugging percentage is 26th.
Kyle Farmer has been the big bat for the Reds. He leads the team with a .255 batting average, 14 home runs, and 76 RBI.
Cincinnati’s pitching is one of the worst in the league, with the team giving up 5.01 runs per game. Opponents have a .252 batting average against the Reds, which is 23rd in the league. Their 4.82 ERA is 28th, while their 1.39 WHIP is 26th.
In his last start, Lodolo gave up four hits and one run in six innings, leading to a 2-1 loss to Milwaukee. They will need a similar effort from him if they want to win this game.