Reds vs. Cubs: Pitching preview, prediction, and more

The milestones keep coming for Reds first baseman Joey Votto.

The 2021 season is becoming quite the memorable one for the longtime Cincinnati Reds’ first baseman. Earlier this season, Joey Votto took the Cubs Jake Arrieta deep for home run number 300, and this week he launched another long ball to reach the 1,000 RBI plateau.

Votto currently ranks third in Reds history with 305 home runs and counting. Next on the list is the legendary Frank Robinson with 324 round-trippers which Votto will more than likely overtake early next season. All-time leader Johnny Bench who sits at 389 blasts, is probably out of Votto’s reach, but second place is not too shabby.

Now sitting sixth on the Reds’ all-time list with 1,000 RBIs, Votto, barring injury, will end the 2021 season alone in fourth place. Pete Rose and Robinson are fourth and fifth on the leaderboard with 1,009 and 1,036 ribbies, respectively. Next season, Votto will move into third place behind only Bench and Tony Perez when he surpasses the 1,072 mark of Bid McPhee.

However, it’s not all about career milestones for the 37-year-old Canadian.  Over his last 21 games entering yesterday, he’s slashing .293/.369/.520 with five homers and 17 RBIs. There’s no denying Joey Votto’s greatness. So let’s appreciate this once-in-a-generation talent while Reds Country has the opportunity.

Prediction

By the time this holiday weekend reaches its conclusion, the Cincinnati Reds will have met the halfway mark of the 2021 campaign. Even though they’re on the fringe of playoff contention, barring something unforeseen, the Reds should be healthier by the end of the month than at any point this season.

However, there’s no time like the present to start making some noise. Two things we know; 1) The Reds crush division rivals, and 2) The Cubs are terrible on the road. Both of those truths will ring true this weekend as the Reds take two of three to celebrate our nation’s birthday.