The Cubs will face the Reds this afternoon, now 10.5 games behind them in the NL Central; it may be too late to make up that much ground, but the Cubs will attempt to at least have some respectability against their former manager's team. The Cubs are 2-5 against Cincinnati so far in 2010.
Today's pitching matchup features Bronson Arroyo and Ryan Dempster.
Arroyo has not faced the Cubs since June 7, 2009, when he got a no-decision in a 14-inning game that the Cubs won. No fewer than 12 players who appeared for the Cubs that day are no longer on the major league roster, only a little more than a year later. Arroyo is 7-6 lifetime in 19 appearances (12 starts) against the Cubs with a 3.06 ERA.
Dempster lost to the Reds on May 9 in Cincinnati. Joey Votto smashed a game-winning three-run homer off him. That's one of a pair of HR Votto has hit off Dempster; Votto just loves hitting Cub pitching. 14 of his 71 career HR are off the Cubs.
Game time at Wrigley Field is 1:20 pm; the game will be televised on WGN-TV.