On The Horizon: Cubs vs. Reds series preview.

Of note, not related to this series: The Cubs are tied with the Cardinals for second place in the NL Central heading into the final weekend of the season. Both teams are 81-78. While the Cubs host the Reds, the Cardinals are in San Francisco. Hopefully the Cubs play at least one game better than St. Louis this weekend and finish alone in second place.

For more on the Reds, contact Wick Terrell, manager of our SB Nation Reds website Red Reporter, here.

Another year, another late September in which the Cincinnati Reds stumble through meaningless games with a patchwork squad. However, this time they are doing so without the services of manager David Bell, who was permanently relieved of his duties earlier this week in his sixth season at the helm of the club.

These reds are in many ways a reflection of Bell. They are not bad Team in itself, and they should probably have a better record than them. They certainly aren’t Good However, that never really would have been the case if it weren’t for a dream scenario in which every single injured player stayed healthy the entire season. They are no better than they were a year ago, and the players brought in from outside the organization in recent years appear to be declining over the time they have been with the club.

That was enough for Nick Krall, whose seat might be just as hot as Bell’s, to make the call. So the 76-83 Reds are heading into another offseason of uncertainty – one that will precede the 2025 season, exactly 30 years since this franchise last won a single playoff series.

Elly De La Cruz is still good. Tyler Stephenson is having his best offensive year ever. Heck, Hunter Greene is going to get some negative votes for the Cy Young Award and will hopefully get a start in this series. However, this is the same incomplete Reds club as ever, and Bell lost his job because he couldn’t find a way to make a miracle happen.

It’s the next man’s turn!

Fun fact

The Cubs have played 15 series against 13 different teams since the beginning of August. Nobody was against the Reds. The division opponents last played from July 29th to 31st in Cincinnati, where the Reds played two of three games. The Reds also won two of three games when the teams last met at Wrigley Field from May 31 to June 2. Since the finale of this series, the Cubs have played 99 games.

(Courtesy of JohnW53 from BCB)

Likely pitching matchups

Friday: Jameson Taillon, RHP (11-8, 3.41 ERA, 1.143 WHIP, 3.94 FIP) vs. TBD

Saturday: Kyle Hendricks, RHP (4-12, 6.28 ERA, 1.508 WHIP, 5.07 FIP) vs. TBD

Sunday: TBD vs TBD

This series preview will be released about four hours before game time for Game 1, but the Reds haven’t released any of the starters, so this is back to the pitchers yet to be determined. Wick Terrell tells me that Hunter Greene and Rhett Lowder are in line to start two of the games in this series, but in what order is unknown. The third game will likely be a bullpen game for the Reds.

It would be Shōta Imanaga’s turn for the Cubs on Sunday. I hope he makes a start.

Times and TV channels

Friday: 1:20 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network, MLB Network (outside Cubs and Reds market areas)

Saturday: 1:20 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network

Sunday: 2:20 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network

forecast

The Reds have gotten off to a hot start this month but have lost eight of their last 13. The Cubs played pretty well against the Nats in their last home game.

A final “two out of three” from me for this series. That would match the Cubs’ 2023 record of 83-79. A sweep would improve it by one win.

Next

The 2025 season! The Cubs will next face the Dodgers on Thursday, February 20, 2025 at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona. The Dodgers will also be the Cubs’ opponent on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, when they open the season in Tokyo, Japan.