Reds v Cubs – 5/3: Starters, Lineups and Notes

March 5, 2013; Tempe, AZ, USA; Leake throws against the Los Angeles Angels in the first inning during a spring training game. (Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports)

A day off might have been just the right medicine the Reds needed. Well, 20 games in 20 days is a tough haul, both mentally and physically.

Or maybe seeing Cubs pitching at Wrigley Field is what the Reds need. As you go through this post, you will see a few things that do point in the way of the Good Guys.

Welp, today’s pitching matchup doesn’t appear to be one of them…

Starting Pitchers

Cincinnati – Mike Leake
2013: 1-1, 4.34 ERA, 1.517 WHIP (5 games/starts)
v. CHI: 4-2, 3.46 ERA, 1.235 WHIP (11 games/starts)
@ Wrigley Field: 1-2, 4.66 ERA, 1.241 WHIP (6 games/starts)
Last appearance v. CHI: 4/22/13 (ND) – 7 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 5 SO

Plenty, plenty of chatter about the fate of Leake once Johnny Cueto returns. ANd the majority of it isn’t positive in Leake’s favor either. In Leake’s first five starts this season, the Reds are 2-3 in those games. Some even feel a great outing this afternoon won’t help the cause.

Leake v. Cubs Batters

This doesn’t look too good, does it? Considering the previously mentioned chatter, there might not be a worse team for Leake to face in this situation.

Chicago – Carlos Villanueva
2013: 1-1, 2.29 ERA, 0.821 WHIP (5 games/starts)
v. CIN: 2-2. 3.72 ERA, 1.241 WHIP (21 games, 6 starts)
@ Wrigley Field: 2-2, 3.38 ERA, 1.156 WHIP (14 games, 3 starts)
Last appearance v. CIN: 4/23/13 (ND) – 8.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 6 SO

That last outing against the Reds was ever better than it looks. Villanueva was removed after having thrown 99 pitches ans still looking like he was in control of the Reds bats. The Cubs ‘pen (or shall I say Carlos Marmol) promptly relinquished the lead, but the Cubbies won in extras.

Villanueva v. Reds Batters

I’m wondering how Broxton got an AB against this guy…

Starting Lineups

You’re seeing things correctly. No BP. John Fay tweets he doesn’t (as of yet) know why Phillips isn’t in the lineup. He headed that one off at the pass, too.

Home/Away Stats

Cincinnati
Home: 12-4; .264/.346/.423; 2.32 ERA, 0.987 WHIP
Away: 3-10; .215/.295/.314; 4.79 ERA, 1.411 WHIP

Cliff covered the road woes yesterday. You have to think that it might becoming ingrained.

Chicago
Home: 5-7; .277/.339/.502; 4.54 ERA, 1.349 WHIP
Away: 6-10; .207/.256/.348; 3.09 ERA, 1.114 WHIP

The Friendly Confines are friendly…to Cubs bats, but not to the arms.

Notes

The Reds hold an 8-2 advantage over the last 10 games played including a 2-1 edge in 2013.

Cincinnati
– The Reds have gone nine games since their last successful stolen base attempt (Robinson). They have attempted only two others in that span…and both (Votto and BP) were thrown out.
– During this road trip, the bullpen has yet to allow an inherited runner to score (4 IR).
– In those 7 games on this trip, the Reds have scored 14 runs.
– BP’s home run in the 9th inning in the final game of the Cards series snapped a string of three consecutive games where the Red had not homered. That is the longest f the season.

Chicago
– In the recently completed series against the Padres (2-2), the Cubs belted 7 home runs and pounded out 39 hits.
– Some may think the Good Guys are predicated on the long ball, but the Cubs have more on the season (36, 2nd in NL) than the Reds (27, NL avg.).
– The Cubs have at least one stolen base in four straight games, their longest streak of the season.

Game time is 2:20 PM ET.

GO REDS!!!