The Chicago Cubs have been spinning their wheels of late and hope that their three-game series against the visiting Cincinnati Reds can get them back on track.
That series begins on Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
The Cubs lost for the fifth time in seven games Wednesday when they were shut out in the decisive contest of their three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Pete Crow-Armstrong recorded one of his team’s only two hits in the 2-0 loss to the Diamondbacks.
His team’s lack of offense aside, the slugger was fuming following the game after umpires failed to call a balk despite Arizona’s Eduardo Rodriguez appearing to step off the rubber during his windup as Crow-Armstrong broke for home.
Crow-Armstrong ultimately was stranded at third base following that sequence and an inning-ending strikeout. The Cubs failed to generate anything else en route to finishing their six-game road trip with a 2-4 mark.
“Road trips are tough in August, and the whole month of August is a grind,” Crow-Armstrong said. “We’re all just trying to keep our heads above water.”
The Cubs hope to come up for air on Friday afternoon when they return home to face the National League Central cellar-dwelling Reds, against whom they are 6-1 this season.
Cincinnati, however, ignited its offense on Wednesday after being limited to one or fewer runs in nine of its previous 17 games.
Shuffled to the leadoff spot, rookie Hector Rodriguez belted a pair of homers in the Reds’ wild 10-9 victory over the San Francisco Giants.
“I enjoyed being a part of that and being able to add something into it was great,” Rodriguez said via translator. He is 8-for-19 in his past five games.
Eugenio Suarez launched a grand slam during Cincinnati’s seven-run ninth inning.
“It feels great,” Suarez said. “I told the guys this game was crazy. We were down almost the whole game. That inning, we had little things that helped us win this game. Little things that we need to do more. It’s not just about the big homers, like by me.”
The good feeling likely didn’t extend to early Thursday, when the Reds placed Suarez on waivers, The Athletic reported.
Still, the Reds will look to continue their sudden power surge on Friday versus Cubs left-hander David Peterson (7-7, 5.17 ERA), who will get the start.
Peterson, 30, received a no-decision in his last outing despite allowing two runs on four hits in six innings against the Seattle Mariners.
He hasn’t fared well in either of his outings this season against Cincinnati.
While pitching for the New York Mets, Peterson permitted six runs on 11 hits in five innings in a 7-2 setback on May 26 before yielding three runs in three frames in a 12-0 shellacking on June 15. All told, he is 1-2 with a 6.19 ERA in seven career appearances (six starts) versus the Reds.
Cincinnati right-hander Rhett Lowder (5-8, 5.13) will get the start on Friday.
Lowder walked away with the win in his last outing despite yielding four runs on six hits — including two homers — in an 11-5 victory over the Diamondbacks.
He permitted three runs in three innings in an 8-3 loss to the Cubs on May 7. He pitched two scoreless innings in a no-decision versus Chicago on July 12.
Lowder, 24, is 0-1 with a 2.70 ERA in three career appearances (two starts) against the Cubs.
–Field Level Media
