The Cubs (30-20) continue to play well against weaker competition, winning a series in Miami against the Marlins to move a season-high 10 games over the .500 mark. Chicago now takes their first trip of the season to Great American Ball Park for a three-game set against the Reds starting Friday.
Cincinnati (25-26) has been a very streaky team under first-year manager Terry Francona, with a record hovering right around break-even. Offensively, it has been quite a Jekyll and Hyde season on the Ohio River. The Reds have played 14 games in which they scored one or no runs, yet they’ve averaged six per game in their other 37 contests.