Cubs v Reds – 4/24/13: Pitchers and Lineups

Well last night’s outcome sure sucked…

Maybe the Good Guys can start another winning streak before they head out on the road. A win today would give the Reds an 8-2 record on this home stand. Now if only they could find a way to win on the road where they are 1-5. Let’s see what happens when they arrive in our nation’s capital.

The weather doesn’t look all that great as of now, but that could be changing (for the better and worse) as the day progresses. With a 12:35 PM ET start time, this rain needs to go away!!!

According to the team over at Local 12, the rain should be ending early and we should get the game in today.

12pm: Cloudy Medium Rain – 49°
2pm: Cloudy Very Light Rain – 46°
4pm: Cloudy – 47°
6pm: Cloudy – 49°

Yep…should get to play.

UPDATE: Once thought the game was going to have a 1:15 PM ET start and that was pushed back. Now, it looks like a 2:00 PM ET start is in the offering.

Probable Starting Pitchers

Apr 19, 2013; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Samardzija pitches against the Milwaukee Brewers in the 1st inning at Miller Park. (Photo: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports)

Cubs – Jeff Samardzija
2013: 1-3, 3.38 ERA, 0.975
v. CIN: 1-1, 4.67 ERA, 1.000 WHIP (16 appearances, 2 starts)
@ GABP: 1-1, 5.60 ERA, 1.019 WHIP (8 appearances, 2 starts)
last app. v CIN: 8/18/12 (L) – 5 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO, 3 HR allowed (Paul, Frazier, Cairo)

Last season, both of Samardzija’s outings against the Reds came at GABP. He split those decisions with the last seeing three balls leave the yard. In his first, he pitched an excellent game going into the 8th inning and allowing only one run on three hits.

The chatter is this guy has completely turned the corner of his baseball career (some forget he had the opportunity to play pro football) and is the guy on this Cubs staff.

Samardzija v. Reds Batters

Apr 3, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Mat Latos (55) pitches during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports

Reds – Mat Latos
2013: 0-0, 2.73 ERA, 1.139 WHIP
v. CHI: 2-2. 3.16 ERA, 1.213 WHIP (5 appearances, all starts)
@ GABP: 9-3, 3.01 ERA, 1.063 WHIP (23 appearances, all starts)
last app. v CHI: 8/19/12 (ND) – 8 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO

Another outing for Reds ace #1A. Last time out, Latos was stellar going 7 innings, allowing one run on six hits and striking out 10 Marlins. Once again, Latos would get an ND in the record books. For this season, Cincy is 2-2 in Latos’ starts…but that should be 4-0. Bullpen let a lead get away in one loss and the other loss was by a Justin Ruggiano swing.

Latos v Cubs Batters

Starting Lineups

Cubs skipper Dale Sveum continues his lineup juggling and we see former Red Dioner Navarro for the first time this season. We also don’t see Alfonso Soriano or Darwin Barney.

Dusty makes only two changes: Paul for Chris Heisey and Mesoraco for Corky.

Discuss this lineup within the comments if you feel the need to vent…

And a few of you know you want to do that.