The Chicago Cubs continue their fight for a playoff berth when they visit the Cincinnati Reds on Friday in the opener of a three-game weekend series.
The Cubs (85-68) are tied with the Philadelphia Phillies (85-68) for the top National League wild-card spot, with the San Diego Padres (84-69) just one game back.
The Reds (71-82) are concluding a deeply disappointing season with their final home series of the year before finishing with a six-game road trip to Atlanta and Toronto.
Chicago is coming off winning two out of three at home against the NL East-leading Braves. The Reds, meanwhile, watched the Dodgers celebrate in Cincinnati with an 8-2 win on Thursday that clinched Los Angeles’ fifth straight NL West division title. The Dodgers won three of four in the series.
Cincinnati has dropped eight of 10 and has matched its season-worst mark of 11 games under .500.
Right-hander Clay Holmes (6-7, 2.85 ERA) will head to the mound for the Cubs in the series opener. It will be his 17th start of the season, his eighth with the Cubs since being acquired in a trade-deadline deal with the New York Mets.
Holmes, set for his first appearance this season against the Reds, has a 1-2 career record with a 7.97 ERA and one save in 13 appearances (two starts) vs. Cincinnati.
The Reds will counter with Chase Burns (15-3, 2.80), who is enjoying a breakout second season that saw him make the NL All-Star team.
The right-hander is 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA in two career appearances (one start) against the Cubs. On Aug. 30 in Chicago, Burns allowed three runs, two earned, on six hits over 5 2/3 innings to earn the 7-5 win. Last year, he threw 1 1/3 innings of one-run ball vs. the Cubs in a relief appearance.
Burns, with 181 strikeouts over 151 1/3 innings, has been placed on an innings restriction with Cincinnati having no hope of October baseball. He threw just three innings in each of his past three outings, with left-hander Brandon Williamson coming on in relief each time.
On Sunday in Milwaukee, Burns was pulled after 56 pitches, having given up two runs (on a second-inning homer) while striking out five and walking three. The Reds went on to win the game 4-3.
“I walked too many,” Burns said. “I was trying to be too perfect, trying to chase the swing and miss. I’m happy where I’m at and the growth. … Just trying to get these last couple starts in.”
Burns will be trying to contain National League MVP candidate Pete Crow-Armstrong.
In the series finale against the Braves on Wednesday, the star center fielder had another remarkable effort in the Cubs’ 8-4 victory.
Crow-Armstrong homered twice, tripled, drove in three runs and drew a walk. He ranks second in the majors with 44 home runs and fifth with 37 stolen bases. Crow-Armstrong belted his first homer of the game in the third inning to stretch Chicago’s lead to 2-0 and his second in the seventh inning to give the Cubs a 7-2 edge.
“When he hit the second homer, Alex Bregman was standing next to me,” Cubs manager Counsell said after the game. “I said, ‘Alex, we don’t get to see things like this.’ You spend your whole life in baseball, and you just don’t see this happen on a baseball field. You’re grateful to be a part of it.”
–Field Level Media
