Reds at Cubs, Game 2 - Preview and Lineups

Sonny Gray takes the mound.

Thanks in large part to the decision by the Cincinnati Reds to bump back their rotation and make Monday’s series opener a bullpen game, the Chicago Cubs still sit a game clear of the Milwaukee Brewers in the chase for the NL’s second Wild Card spot.

You’re welcome, Cubs.

Fresh off yesterday’s 8-2 shellacking, the Reds will send their ace to the mound tonight in hopes that they can send the Cubs home with an L. Sonny Gray has been on quite the tear both of late and for most of the damn season, pitching to a stupid-good 2.26 ERA over his last 20 starts. And, of course, he just took a no-hitter into the 7th inning of his most recent outing, too.

On the bump for the Cub will be Yu Darvish, who has been on quite the heater himself. He’s the owner of a tidy 2.44 ERA over his last 11 starts, and he’s allowed just a lone earned run over 19 IP in his last 3 outings. He has allowed a whopping 31 dingers so far in 2019, however, including 3 in his last start against these Reds, so hopefully the banged-up Reds lineup can do some work against him.

First pitch is set for 8:05 PM ET.

Reds Lineup

Cubs Lineup