Chicago Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds preview, Saturday 5/24, 3:10 CT

The Cubs go for the series win.

Saturday notes…

• MILESTONE ACHIEVED: The Cubs’ win last night was their 2,000th since Opening Day of 2000. They have lost 1,997 and tied one, for a winning percentage of .5003. Sunday’s game will be their 4,000th since the start of 2000. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
• PILING ON THE RUNS: In their last seven games, the Cubs have scored 62 runs — nearly nine per game. They have scored at least six runs in every game but one (and they won that one, 2-1). In their previous seven games, they had scored just 22 runs — barely three per game. They had scored as many as six runs only once. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
• MORE ON CUBS RUNS: The Cubs’ +90 run differential is second only to the Yankees’ +94. The Tigers are a distant third, at +76. Only three other teams are even at +45, half the Cubs’ figure. The Cubs’ 306 runs are 15 more than by the runnerup Dodgers. They led the No. 3 Yankees by 28, the No. 4 Tigers by 38 and the co-No. 4 Diamondbacks and Red Sox by 47. The Cubs’ 6.00 runs per game are more than a quarter of a run ahead of the Dodgers’ second-best 5.71. Only the Yankees (5.56) and Tigers (5.15) also are averaging at least 5.00. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
• PCA! PCA!: Pete Crow-Armstrong, last 19 games since May 2: 321/.341/.718 (25-for-78) with three doubles, two triples, eight home runs, 24 RBI and 17 runs scored.

Here are today’s particulars.

Cubs lineup:

Reds lineup:

Colin Rea, RHP vs. Andrew Abbott, LHP

Colin Rea is having by far the best year of his career — let’s hope he can keep it up.

In his seven starts he has a 2.72 ERA and 1.239 WHIP and has allowed only four home runs in 36⅓ innings.

In two starts vs. the Reds last year he posted a 4.50 ERA in 10 innings and current Reds are hitting .320 (20-for-61) against him with five home runs. So… this one will likely be a test for him.

Andrew Abbott has been very good in seven starts for the Reds this year: 1.80 ERA, 1.114 WHIP, only three home runs in 35 innings.

His last start against the Cubs was June 8, 2024 at GABP. He allowed one run in five innings. The Cubs have had a rough time vs. LH starters this year. This will be a good test for the Cubs hitters, too.

Baseball Savant

Baseball Savant

Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network. You can find out if Marquee is available via a provider in your area here.

Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Reds site Red Reporte. If you do go there to interact with Reds fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.

The 2025 Game Thread procedure will be identical to last year’s.

You’ll find the game preview posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).

At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game, including the First Pitch Thread and the overflow thread, as well as the recap when it’s published. The recap will also live on the front page as a separate post.

You will also be able to find the preview, First Pitch Thread and the overflow thread in the box marked “Chicago Cubs Game Threads” at the bottom of the front page (you can also find them in this section link). The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.

The First Pitch thread will post at five minutes before game time, then an overflow thread at 90 minutes after the scheduled game time.

Discuss amongst yourselves.