Historic Wrigley Field will play host to a Monday matinee between the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago Cubs. The Reds (73-65) are three games above .500 on the road and trail San Diego by a half-game in the race for the final NL Wild Card spot. On Sunday, Cincinnati managed just six hits during a 4-1 home loss versus Detroit.
Thirty-one year old righty Sonny Gray (7-6 3.89 ERA) will make his 22nd start of the season. The Reds have won Gray’s last four starts and he has allowed five runs over his last 22 plus innings.
The Chicago Cubs began their rebuild at the trade deadline and have responded lately by winning six straight games. On Sunday, 1B Frank Schwindel hit a go-ahead seventh inning grand slam to power Chicago to an 11-8 home victory versus Pittsburgh. Matt Duffy homered twice and drove in five runs for the Cubs, who improved to 63-75 on the season.
Twenty-six year old left-hander Justin Steele (3-2 3.48 ERA) will make his fifth career major league start. Through 31 innings, Steele has struck out 35 batters and owns a respectable 1.26 WHIP.
