Last Updated on September 21, 2016 10:39 pm by Brad Burns
Reds hope to spring stunner on Cubs
John Lackey has been very dependable since returning from a bout with shoulder stiffness, but the Cubs aren’t exactly providing him much run support. Will that finally change tonight?
Chicago hosts Cincinnati at 8:05 p.m. ET, with the host squad gunning for the sweep. Online sports book Bovada.lv believes that will happen, too, listing Joe Maddon’s group as a 1.5-run favorite. The Reds enter Wrigley Field as +240 underdogs.
One day after Jon Lester absolutely stifled the NL Central basement dwellers, Lackey (9-8, 3.42 ERA) hopes to follow suit. He’s 2-1 with a 2.36 ERA since July 28. Yet Cincy already boasts a pair of victories over him this season.
Bryan Price counters with Robert Stephenson, who makes his sixth career appearance. The highly touted righty spent the majority of the campaign in the minors, going 8-9 with a 4.41 ERA in 24 outings for Class AAA Louisville. Most recently, allowed four runs on four hits to the Pirates.
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With the exception of regular shortstop Addison Russell’s absence, the Cubbies are poised to play this one pretty straight. Cincinnati should have no business being in the game, but Stephenson’s sheer stuff could confound the home squad for at least several rounds of at-bats. We’ll go with a stunner here.
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