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

The Reds’ right fielder is tied in the race for the NL batting crown.

The year was 1973. That’s the last time a Cincinnati Red captured the batting crown in the National League. Pete Rose collected his third and final batting title in addition to his one and only MVP award while leading the Reds to their third division title in four seasons that year.

As we hit Labor Day, Nick Castellanos finds himself in a dead heat with the Los Angeles Dodgers Trea Turner for the top spot with a .320 average. The battle for the hitting crown has become a two-man race as Cincinnati’s Jesse Winker’s .307 batting average occupies the third slot in the senior circuit.

If Castellanos can outlast Turner, it could be part of a trend in ending long hardware draughts for the Redlegs. Last year, a Reds player won the NL Cy Young Award for the first time in franchise history, while second baseman Jonathan India has an opportunity to be the first Redleg position player since Chris Sabo in 1988 to be named Rookie of the Year.

While we’re on the subject of postseason awards, don’t sleep on Reds’ manager David Bell. If Cincinnati’s third-year manager is recognized, he’ll be the first Cincinnati skipper to ever take home the top prize since the award’s inception in 1983.

Prediction

To say the Reds need to win this series in the worst way doesn’t begin to give justice to the sense of urgency this club desperately needs. More than likely, the second NL Wild Card berth will be decided by the team that can rattle off a string of victories in a week or 10-day timeframe.

There’s no reason that team can’t be Cincinnati. The last time the Reds and Cubs met, the North Sider had lost 11 in a row when they visited GABP.  This time Chicago is the winner of six consecutive contests. Look for that streak to come to a screeching halt today as the Reds take the opener en route to capturing two of three at Wrigley Field.