Cubs play the Reds in first of 3-game series

Aug 28, 2026, 04:02 am

Cincinnati Reds (63-71, fifth in the NL Central) vs. Chicago Cubs (76-58, second in the NL Central)

Chicago; Friday, 2:20 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Reds: Rhett Lowder (5-8, 5.13 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 83 strikeouts); Cubs: David Peterson (7-7, 5.17 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 103 strikeouts)

LINE: Cubs -192, Reds +165; over/under is 8 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Cubs start a three-game series at home against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday.

Chicago is 76-58 overall and 38-27 at home. Cubs pitchers have a collective 4.09 ERA, which ranks sixth in the NL.

Cincinnati is 63-71 overall and 31-35 in road games. The Reds have a 43-9 record in games when they scored five or more runs.

Friday's game is the eighth time these teams match up this season. The Cubs are up 6-1 in the season series.

TOP PERFORMERS: Pete Crow-Armstrong has a .276 batting average to lead the Cubs, and has 27 doubles, seven triples and 33 home runs. Ian Happ is 10 for 33 with three home runs and 10 RBI over the past 10 games.

JJ Bleday has 14 doubles, two triples, 21 home runs and 51 RBI for the Reds. Hector Rodriguez is 9 for 32 with a double and three home runs over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Cubs: 4-6, .247 batting average, 3.96 ERA, outscored opponents by 12 runs

Reds: 4-6, .245 batting average, 5.28 ERA, outscored by 13 runs

INJURIES: Cubs: Dansby Swanson: 10-Day IL (side), Christopher Austin: 60-Day IL (knee), Riley Martin: 60-Day IL (elbow), Ben Brown: 60-Day IL (neck), Hoby Milner: 15-Day IL (appendicitis), Gavin Hollowell: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Matt Shaw: 10-Day IL (hand), Hunter Harvey: 60-Day IL (tricep), Edward Cabrera: 15-Day IL (blister), Phil Maton: 60-Day IL (knee), Justin Steele: 60-Day IL (elbow), Porter Hodge: 60-Day IL (elbow), Cade Horton: 60-Day IL (forearm), Shelby Miller: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Reds: Mike Toglia: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Brandon Williamson: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Graham Ashcraft: 60-Day IL (forearm), Hunter Greene: 60-Day IL (elbow), Blake Dunn: 60-Day IL (elbow), Spencer Steer: 10-Day IL (wrist)

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.