Lester leads Cubs into battle vs. Reds
The team that posted baseball’s second-worst record last season at 64-98 looks like a radically different group in 2016, but can it hold up against one of the game’s undisputed titans?
We’ll get some answers when the Reds and Cubs square off tonight, with an 8:05 p.m. ET first pitch at Wrigley Field. Oddsmakers at online sports book Bovada.lv, unsurprisingly, favor the team competing in its home opener.
Despite losing blue-chip prospect Kyle Schwarber to a season-ending knee injury, Chicago reeled off five victories in six games at Los Angeles and Arizona. They absolutely thrived away from the Friendly Confines thanks to ridiculous starts by third-place batter Anthony Rizzo, who ranks second in the bigs with 10 RBIs, and .526-hitting leadoff man Dexter Fowler.
Nonetheless, Joe Maddon’s players have company atop the National League Central Division. Cincinnati boasts an identical 5-1 mark after completing after yesterday’s 2-1 triumph over Pittsburgh. The driving forces propelling manager Bryan Price’s attack so far: right fielder Jay Bruce and infielder Eugenio Suarez. That duo has gone 19 for 43 with six homers and 18 RBIs.
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The Cubs fear no one on the Cincy side, though, primarily because of their starting pitcher du jour. Jon Lester won all four assignments vs. the Reds last year, and he got this campaign off to a rollicking beginning by muzzling the Angels a week ago. The visitors counter with Brandon Finnegan (0-0, 3.00 ERA), a complete unknown to Chicago.
Still, the ultra-deep Cubs possess a knack for identifying an opposing hurler’s tendencies without hesitation. Rizzo, Kris Bryant and the rest of the gang then proceed to react accordingly. Cincinnati is no exception to the rule, particularly given the green nature of the rotation in the Queen City. Lester will ensure that his organization reaches the six-spot first.
MONDAY MLB FREE PICK: CUBS -1.5
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