Reds rain delay: Cincy's Saturday night showdown vs. Cubs hindered by weather

The Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs will not start Saturday's game on time. A rain delay is in effect, and the most recent update is that Game 2 of the three-game series will begin at 10:35 p.m ET on Saturday. Sunday's series finale is scheduled for 2:20 p.m. ET, before the Reds head out to Denver for a three-game series with the Colorado Rockies.

Update: First pitch of tonight's game will be at 10:35 p.m. ET. (Updated: 9:56 p.m. ET)

Update: According to Jeremy Rauch of FOX19, the Cubs say they expect showers to pass shortly with an estimated start time to follow. (Updated: 9:27 p.m. ET 6/1/2024)

Hunter Greene is tonight's scheduled starter for the Reds. Greene has put together quite the stretch and is finally looking like the ace-level starting pitcher that Cincinnati drafted him to be when they selected him with the second-overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft.

Greene has been tinkering with a new pitch — a split finger fastball — and it's been rather effective. The right-hander is 3-2 with a 3.06 ERA on the season, but during the month of May, Greene posted a 2.40 ERA with 29 strikeouts in 30 innings of work. Hopefully once the tarp comes off the field, Greene can continue his hot streak.

Reds rain delay: Saturday night showdown vs. Cubs hindered by weather

Once the game gets underway tonight, Greene will be opposed by Cubs' starter Justin Steele. The left-hander was slowed by an early-season injury, but looked spectacular during his previous outing against the Milwaukee Brewers. Steele allowed just three hits in seven innings and struck eight Brewers' hitters.

It looks as if the weather will eventually pass through, and the Reds will send Stuart Fairchild into the batters' box as the team's leadoff hitter against the southpaw. Elly De La Cruz will follow with Jeimer Candelario, Spencer Steer, and Tyler Stephenson in the lineup as well. Friday's hero, Santiago Espinal, is in the starting lineup as well, along with Jonathan India, Luke Maile, and TJ Friedl.

The Reds have won 5-of-7 and once the game gets underway, will be looking to win their first series against an NL Central opponent this season.

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