Cubs to silence Reds for second straight day?
The Cubs don’t expect another no-hitter tonight. They are, however, high on Jon Lester’s chances of delivering the team’s eighth consecutive win over the Reds.
Roughly 24 hours after Jake Arrieta’s second career no-no, Chicago and Cincinnati take the field for the second contest of a four-game set. Oddsmakers at online sports book BetDSI prefer Joe Maddon’s club as a 1.5-run favorite. As for the over/under figure, it sits at 8.5 runs.
Cincy hadn’t been held without a base knock in a tilt since 1971, but Arrieta dazzled the Great American Ballpark with a 119-pitch clinic. Thursday’s offense wasn’t half bad, either, plating 16 runs on 18 hits. Third baseman Kris Bryant shook off the shackles of a 14-for-60 start and mashed two homers to go along with six RBIs. Basically, everything coalesced to give Chicago its first 12-4 sprint out of the gate in 46 years.
Matters likely won’t get easier for the host squad beginning at 7:10 p.m. ET. Lester (1-1, 2.21 ERA) allowed just a solo homer to Colorado’s Nolan Arenado and struck out 10 in a 2-0 loss last weekend. The lefty also closed 2015 by limiting the Reds to one run in 10-3 victory in the Queen City.
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Bryan Price counters with Jon Moscot, who yielded two solo blasts over 5 2/3 innings of his season debut on Sunday. The inexperienced righty must somehow contain a lineup that went yard five times in the opener. In addition to Bryant, Anthony Rizzo cleared the fence for the second straight outing. Leadoff man Dexter Fowler has upped his mark to .393, good for second in the National League.
Simply put, Cincinnati (8-8) limps in at the worst juncture imaginable. With Billy Hamilton sidelined and Joey Votto stuck in an 0-for 17 rut, Pryce possesses few options. Look for Lester, not to mention the Cubs’ bats, to dole out punishment accordingly.
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