Pitching matchup is the kind that should make Reds fans nervous. Andrew Abbott takes the mound at 1-2 with a 5.97 ERA and a 1.673 WHIP, which is a tough hand to play in a bandbox against a lineup currently mashing. Jameson Taillon counters at 2-1, 4.41 — not vintage stuff, but a 1.154 WHIP says he's been keeping traffic off the bases, and that plays at home.
The Cubs offense is doing a lot of the work right now. Ian Happ leads the team with 8 homers, Nico Hoerner is hitting .299 with 27 RBI, and Pete Crow-Armstrong has been on a tear — 3-for-5 with a homer Tuesday, 3-for-4 with 2 RBI Wednesday in the series before this one, hitting .345 over his last 8 games per Bleed Cubbie Blue. The Reds aren't lineup-less either; Elly De La Cruz is up to 10 homers and slugging .547. They just need somebody to get an out at Wrigley.
- Day-To-DayConnor Burns (C)
- Day-To-DayJosh Staumont (RP) — The Reds re-signed Staumont to a minor-league contract Dec. 30.02/12
- 10-Day-ILEugenio Suarez (3B) — Suarez (oblique) will take grounders on the field and flips in the batting cage Monday, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.05/04
- 15-Day-ILNick Lodolo (SP) — Lodolo (finger) expects to face no workload limitations when he's activated from the 15-day injured list to start Friday's game against the Astros in Cincinnati, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.05/05
- BereavementPierce Johnson (RP) — The Reds placed Johnson (personal) on the bereavement list Sunday.05/03
- 15-Day-ILCaleb Ferguson (RP) — Ferguson (oblique) allowed one run on one hit and struck out two over one inning for Double-A Chattanooga on Friday.05/03
- 15-Day-ILBrandon Williamson (SP) — Williamson was removed from Wednesday's game against the Rockies with left shoulder fatigue, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.04/30
- OutEmilio Pagan (RP) — The Reds will place Pagan (hamstring) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.05/06
- OutAlex Young (RP) — Young revealed in a post on his personal Instagram account that he underwent season-ending surgery on his left elbow March 31.12/09
- OutCarson Spiers (SP) — The Reds re-signed Spiers (elbow) to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training Monday.11/24
- 60-Day-ILHunter Greene (SP) — Greene (elbow) is playing catch from 110 feet and is about three weeks away from progressing to bullpen sessions, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.04/28
- Day-To-DayJaxon Wiggins (SP) — Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that Wiggins was placed on Triple-A Iowa's 7-day injured list Wednesday due to right elbow inflammation, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.04/21
- Day-To-DayBrandon Birdsell (RP) — Birdsell (elbow) will miss the entire 2026 season, Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline reports.04/08
- Day-To-DayJeff Brigham (RP) — The Cubs signed Brigham to a minor-league contract Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.03/31
- 15-Day-ILRiley Martin (RP) — Martin has been diagnosed with flexor strain in his left elbow and is expected to miss eight weeks, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.04/28
- 15-Day-ILCaleb Thielbar (RP) — The Cubs placed Thielbar on the 15-day injured list Friday with a left hamstring strain.04/25
- 15-Day-ILHunter Harvey (RP) — Harvey (triceps) will restart his throwing program Friday, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.04/21
- 15-Day-ILJordan Wicks (RP) — Wicks (elbow) struck out two batters and allowed one hit and one walk over three scoreless innings Saturday in a rehab start for Triple-A Iowa.04/21
- 15-Day-ILEthan Roberts (RP) — The Cubs placed Roberts on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with an undisclosed injury.04/14
- 60-Day-ILJustin Steele (SP) — Manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday that Steele's (elbow) setback will keep him sidelined until after the All-Star break, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.04/29
- 60-Day-ILPorter Hodge (RP) — The Cubs transferred Hodge (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.04/24
- 60-Day-ILCade Horton (SP) — Horton (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery Thursday and is expected to be sidelined up to 16 months, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.04/18
- 60-Day-ILTyler Austin (1B) — Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that Austin underwent a patellar tendon debridement procedure on his right knee Tuesday and will be out for "months," Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.03/25
- 60-Day-ILShelby Miller (RP) — Miller (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list by the Cubs on Sunday.03/01
Cincinnati's rotation is held together with athletic tape — Hunter Greene on the 60-day, Brandon Williamson and Nick Lodolo on the 15-day (Lodolo expected back Friday per MLB.com's Mark Sheldon), Eugenio Suarez still working his oblique back at third. The Cubs have their own pile, headlined by Justin Steele out until after the All-Star break and Cade Horton lost to Tommy John, but they're winning anyway. That's the difference right now.
Market has the Cubs as a -159 home favorite at Pinnacle with the total sitting on 8. The model flags everything in this game as slightly negative EV, which tracks — books know what the Cubs are doing at home, and there's no free money waiting on a team that's won 12 in a row at Wrigley. First pitch at 6:40 PM.