Both the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds enter their midweek series with a bit of momentum. The Reds are fresh off of sweeping the lowly Houston Astros, while the Cubs visit the Reds having split a road series vs. the Philadelphia Phillies. Momentum, of course, means little in baseball, but after taking two of three from the Cardinals and chopping with the Phillies, the Cubs likely feel as good about themselves as they have all season.
But in order to be successful in Cincy this week, the Cubs will have to reverse their fortunes on the road, where they are only 3-7. The task in the hands of starter Jeff Samardzjia, who is looking for some semblance of consistency after a dazzling spring. Samardzjia has started four games this year, and in two of them he's given up one run in 15.1 combined innings, but in the other two he's given up 10 runs in 8.2 combined innings. Samardzjia has kept the ball on the ground this season at a rate far above his career average, and he'll likely have success in the Reds' launching pad of a stadium if he's able to keep the ball out of the air.
He'll be opposed by Bronson Arroyo, who has posted an ERA just over two this year after an apocalyptic 2011 season. Leffies have a .688 OPS vs. Arroyo this year compared to a .495 OPS for righties, so expect Cubs manager Dale Sveum to load his line up with lefties.
Game date/time: Wednesday, May 2, 6:05 p.m.
Location: Great American Ballpark, Cincinnati, Ohio
TV: WGN
For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of this series, head over to Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue and Reds blog Red Reporter. For more news and notes from around baseball, visit Baseball Nation.
But in order to be successful in Cincy this week, the Cubs will have to reverse their fortunes on the road, where they are only 3-7. The task in the hands of starter Jeff Samardzjia, who is looking for some semblance of consistency after a dazzling spring. Samardzjia has started four games this year, and in two of them he's given up one run in 15.1 combined innings, but in the other two he's given up 10 runs in 8.2 combined innings. Samardzjia has kept the ball on the ground this season at a rate far above his career average, and he'll likely have success in the Reds' launching pad of a stadium if he's able to keep the ball out of the air.
He'll be opposed by Bronson Arroyo, who has posted an ERA just over two this year after an apocalyptic 2011 season. Leffies have a .688 OPS vs. Arroyo this year compared to a .495 OPS for righties, so expect Cubs manager Dale Sveum to load his line up with lefties.
Game date/time: Wednesday, May 2, 6:05 p.m.
Location: Great American Ballpark, Cincinnati, Ohio
TV: WGN
For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of this series, head over to Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue and Reds blog Red Reporter. For more news and notes from around baseball, visit Baseball Nation.