Stephanie: Sean, the Cubs got robbed in Arizona on a missed balk call, and now they're back home to face the Reds. But I've got a feeling this team is about to take it out on Cincinnati. You ready to break it down?
Sean: Oh, I'm ready. That loss left a bitter taste, but the Cubs are 76-58 and sitting second in the NL Central. Tonight they start a big series with the Reds, and there's a lot to unpack.
Stephanie: Welcome back to Beatline, Cubs fans! I'm Stephanie, and as always, I've got my guy Sean here. Today we're previewing tonight's matchup against Cincinnati, and we've got three big things on the docket.
Sean: First, we'll dive into the pitching probables and what to expect from the mound. Then we'll break down the key hitters and the bullpen questions that could decide this series. And finally, we'll give you our keys to the series and a bold prediction you won't want to miss.
Stephanie: So stick around, because we're about to get into it. But first, let's set the stage with that controversial loss in Phoenix.
Stephanie: Alright Sean, let's talk about what happened Wednesday. The Cubs lost 2-0 to the Diamondbacks, and Pete Crow-Armstrong was livid about a missed balk call. What did you see?
Sean: Yeah, that was a tough one. Eduardo Rodriguez was dealing, struck out nine in seven innings, but the balk call could have changed the whole inning. It's frustrating when a missed call potentially costs you a game, especially in a tight playoff race.
Stephanie: And now they have to turn the page quickly. Tonight they host the Reds at Wrigley. What's the pitching matchup look like?
Sean: Well, we don't have official probables announced yet, but we know the Cubs have a deep rotation. Guys like Shota Imanaga, Kevin Gausman, and Matthew Boyd have been carrying the load. I'd expect one of them to take the ball tonight.
Stephanie: Imanaga has been lights out lately. He's been our ace, and if he gets the start, I like our chances. But we also have to consider the Reds' pitching. Who do they have that could give us fits?
Sean: The Reds have some quality arms, but their rotation has been inconsistent. If we can get to their bullpen early, that's a big advantage. We saw that in the last series against Arizona – their starters shut us down, but our bats need to wake up.
Stephanie: You mentioned the bats. We scored zero runs in that last game, and that's been a theme. What's going on with the offense?
Sean: It's been feast or famine. We have the talent – Seiya Suzuki, Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong – but we're not stringing hits together. Plate discipline is key. We need to work counts and get on base, especially against a Reds staff that can be hittable.
Stephanie: And we need to take advantage of the home crowd. Wrigley Field can be a game-changer. Let's talk about the key hitters in this series. Who should we be watching?
Sean: Crow-Armstrong is the obvious one. He's been electric on the basepaths and in the field. But I'm also watching Michael Busch at first base – he's been streaky, and if he can find his power, that lengthens our lineup. And don't sleep on Nico Hoerner – he's been consistent all year.
Stephanie: And what about the Reds' hitters? Who do we need to be careful with?
Sean: They've got some young talent, but they've also been banged up. If their key guys are healthy, they can put up runs. But our pitching has been solid – we just need to keep the ball in the park.
Stephanie: Alright, so the pitching matchup is going to be crucial. Let's take a quick break, but when we come back, we'll dive into the bullpen and injuries, because there's a lot to talk about there.
Stephanie: Welcome back! Before the break, we talked about pitching. Now let's get into the bullpen, because that's been a concern. Sean, what's the status?
Sean: The bullpen has been overworked lately. We've had some tight games, and the relievers have been asked to do a lot. Guys like Caleb Thielbar and Jacob Webb have been solid, but we need them to be sharp, especially if the starter can't go deep.
Stephanie: And we've got some injuries to monitor. Ben Brown had a setback in his rehab for a neck injury – that's a blow. What does that mean for the rotation?
Sean: It's tough. Brown was expected to provide some depth, but now his availability for the stretch run is in doubt. That means we need our current starters to step up and eat innings. The rotation has been good, but we can't afford to overuse the bullpen.
Stephanie: And we also have some everyday players banged up. Nolan Arenado is day-to-day – that's a big name. What's the latest there?
Sean: Arenado has been dealing with something, but he's been playing through it. He's a veteran, so he knows how to manage. But if he can't go, we lose a lot of production at third base and in the lineup. We have Alex Bregman who can slide over, but it changes the dynamic.
Stephanie: And we've got some other injuries on the roster – Carson Kelly is back, but what about the rest? Let's check the full list.
Sean: We've got a few guys on the IL – Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is on the 10-day, but he's been out for a while. Ketel Marte is also on the 10-day, and Tommy Troy with a 10-day as well. Matt Shaw is on the 10-day too. So we're a bit banged up, but we have depth.
Stephanie: It's a lot of names, but the Cubs have been resilient all season. We're still in second place in the NL Central with a 76-58 record. That's a solid spot, but we need to keep winning to stay in the race.
Sean: Exactly. Every game matters now, and this series against the Reds is a chance to create some separation. They're not in our division, but they're a team we should beat, especially at home.
Stephanie: And what about the Reds' injuries? They've got some guys banged up too. That could play into our favor.
Sean: Yeah, they've got a few on the IL – Edward Cabrera, Shelby Miller, and more. So their pitching staff might be thin, which means we could see some favorable matchups. But we still have to execute.
Stephanie: Alright, so the bullpen and injuries are key. But we also need to talk about the offense. We've been struggling to score runs. What's the fix?
Sean: It's about approach. We need to be more patient at the plate, work deeper counts, and capitalize on mistakes. We have too much talent to be shut out like that. I expect a bounce-back performance tonight.
Stephanie: And we saw Ian Happ hit homers in the Diamondbacks series – he was hot. He could be a difference-maker here. But we need the whole lineup to contribute.
Sean: Absolutely. We can't rely on one or two guys. We need production from top to bottom – from the leadoff spot to the bottom of the order.
Stephanie: Alright, let's take another quick break. When we come back, we'll give you our keys to the series and a bold prediction you won't want to miss.
Stephanie: Welcome back! We've talked about pitching, bullpen, and injuries. Now it's time to get into the keys to the series. Sean, what do the Cubs need to do to win this series against the Reds?
Sean: First and foremost, we need to get off to a fast start. Coming off a tough loss, we can't afford to dig an early hole. Scoring first and putting pressure on the Reds' pitching is crucial.
Stephanie: And what about the bullpen? We talked about the fatigue. How do we manage that?
Sean: We need our starters to go deep. If we can get six or seven innings from our starter, that takes the pressure off the bullpen. And when we do go to the pen, we need those guys to be sharp, especially in high-leverage spots.
Stephanie: And defensively, we've been solid, but we need to make the routine plays. No errors that could cost us runs.
Sean: Exactly. Defense is going to be key, especially with the wind at Wrigley. We need to play clean baseball and let our pitching and offense do the work.
Stephanie: Now, before we give our predictions, I want to bring up something from yesterday. We made some predictions about this series, and I think we need to hold ourselves accountable. Yesterday, Sean predicted the Cubs would win the series 2-1, with Imanaga going seven innings and striking out eight. I predicted Crow-Armstrong would homer and steal a base, and the Cubs take the series.
Sean: And I'm sticking with that. I think Imanaga is going to be dominant tonight, and the offense is going to wake up. Let's make a bold prediction for tonight's game.
Stephanie: I'm going to say the Cubs win 5-1, and Pete Crow-Armstrong hits a leadoff homer and steals a base. That's my bold prediction. What about you, Sean?
Sean: I'll say the Cubs win 4-2, with Seiya Suzuki driving in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning. And I think the bullpen locks it down in the final two frames.
Stephanie: I like it. But there's one more thing I want to touch on – that balk call. The Cubs were irate, and rightfully so. But they can't let that linger. They need to channel that frustration into tonight's game.
Sean: Exactly. Use it as fuel. Come out with fire and show the league they're not going to be pushed around. I think we see a focused Cubs team tonight.
Stephanie: Alright, so to recap: we need strong starting pitching, a bounce-back offensive performance, and a shutdown bullpen. If we get those, we're in good shape. Thanks for joining us, and don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review Beatline Podcast Network. Tell your friends about us! And as always, let's go Cubs!
Stephanie: That's all for today's episode! Make sure to tune in tomorrow for the recap of tonight's game. And remember, it's a marathon, not a sprint. We'll see you next time on Beatline!
Sean: Go Cubs! Let's get that win tonight!