The Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds will be taking part in the second annual MLB Field of Dreams game in Dyersville, Iowa on Thursday night in a prime time special. Two of baseball's oldest franchises will battle at this neutral site in game one of their three-game weekend series. The game will take place on the field made famous by the movie starring Kevin Costner. The pitching matchup for this special attraction will be lefty Drew Smyly (4-6, 3.97) of the Cubs taking on fellow lefty Nick Lodolo (3-3, 4.40) of the Reds. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15pm EST.
The Chicago Cubs are currently in a three-way struggle for the basement in the top-heavy NL Central Division. While the Cardinals and Brewers jockey for position atop the division, the Cubs are quietly battling it out for the much less envious position of last-place in the division with both Pittsburgh and tonight's opponent, the Cincinnati Reds. The Cubs split the first two games of their series with the Nationals in Wrigley to start the week. On Wednesday, in the series finale, the Cubs rallied for four runs in the 7th innings and took the rubber match of their 3-game set with the Nationals, 4-2.
Here are the jerseys and hats the Cubs and Reds will wear during this year's Field of Dreams Game pic.twitter.com/LvCdUCciYD
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) August 8, 2022
The Cubs have won four of the seven games they've played against the Reds this season. In their victories, the Cubs bats have shown up, averaging over ten runs per game in their wins while allowing just over four runs per game in their four wins. In the three losses to the Reds, the Cubs have averaged 3.7 runs per game while allowing 9.7 runs per game. On the mound for the Cubs on Thursday night will be veteran lefty Drew Smyly. Smyly has made 14 starts this season with two quality starts thus far. Smyly has faced the Reds once, picking up the win on May 23rd after going 5.2 innings and allowing four hits and three runs in an eventual 7-4 Cubs win. In his last start, Smyly was outstanding, going 6.2 innings and allowing five hits and not allowing a run in a 4-0 Cubs shutout win.