Reds vs. Cubs, Game 2 - Preview and Lineups

The Reds and Cubs ramp it back up this afternoon for the second game of this weekend series. The Reds are fresh off a thumping of the Northsiders yesterday (though it got a little uncomfortable there at the end), and will look to carry that momentum into today’s game.

The Cubs send Zach Davies to the hill for this one. He was the only Major League piece the team received in return for trading Yu Darvish to the Padres in the offseason. He’s been pretty bad to start the year, having given up 20 earned runs over five starts (19 IP). Those are the most earned runs allowed in all of Major League Baseball. So, not great!

He does have a pretty good track record against the Reds, however, after having spent several years in Milwaukee. In four starts, Daviess has pitched to a 2.38 ERA in Cincinnati. Those were vastly different Reds offenses, you may remember.

Jesse Winker is going to miss this one with a balky back, which apparently tightened up on him yesterday evening. That kinda sucks, because Jesse’s been tearing the cover off of the ball this season, when he’s been in the lineup.

The Reds will answer with Luis Castillo, who is still looking to get on track this season. He’s given up 17 runs of his own so far, and the 1.603 WHIP is certainly ugly. Getting Castillo right would go a long way for the Reds chances this season.

First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 PM.

Reds lineup

Cubs lineup