What, YOU again?
Why, these teams just saw each other… last weekend!
Since then, the Cubs swept the Rockies at Wrigley and the Reds took two of three from the Royals in Kansas City, winning the first two games and dropping the last one.
Last weekend the Cubs took two of three in Cincinnati, with huge comebacks in the late innings in both wins. They outscored the Reds 28-20.
For more on the Reds, please visit our SB Nation Reds site Red Reporter.
Fun facts
This is the second of three times during the season that the Cubs will face an opponent twice in a span of three series. The Cubs played three games at Cincinnati on May 23-25, before returning home to take on the Rockies.
The first such two-of-three span was May 12-14 at home vs. the Marlins, then May 19-21 at Miami. The third will be Sept. 1-3 at home vs. the Braves, then Sept. 8-10 at Atlanta.
The Cubs have played 2,419 games against the Reds, third most behind 2,611 vs. the Pirates and 2,513 vs. the Cardinals.
After all those games against the Reds, the Cubs own just 23 more wins than the Reds do, 1,210 to 1,187. They have won 108 more at home but lost 85 more at Cincinnati.
The rivalry at Wrigley Field has been all over the map the past two seasons. In 2023, the Cubs dropped three straight, then won three of four. In 2024, they lost two of three, then won two of three. The Cubs’ last sweep of the Reds at home was a three-game series, Sept. 30-Oct. 2, 2022.
(Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
Probable pitching matchups
Friday: Colin Rea, RHP (3-1, 3.28 ERA, 1.286 WHIP, 3.65 FIP) vs. Andrew Abbott, LHP (4-0, 1.77 ERA, 1.156 WHIP, 3.46 FIP)
Saturday: Ben Brown, RHP (3-3, 6.39 ERA, 1.599 WHIP, 3.40 FIP) vs. Nick Lodolo, LHP (4-4, 3.39 ERA, 1.099 WHIP, 3.67 FIP)
Sunday: Jameson Taillon, RHP (4-3, 3.86 ERA, 1.048 WHIP, 5.12 FIP) vs. Nick Martinez, RHP (3-5, 3.48 ERA, 1.113 WHIP, 3.33 FIP)
NOTE: As of the posting time of this series preview, no starters had been listed by the Cubs for this series. These are the three Cubs starters who would go if they keep the rotation in order. As always, we await developments.
Times & TV channels
Friday: 1:20 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network, MLB Network (outside Cubs and Reds market territories)
Saturday: 1:20 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network, MLB Network (outside Cubs and Reds market territories)
Sunday: 1:20 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Prediction
The Reds have played pretty well away from Great American Ball Park, with a 14-15 record on the road so far in 2025.
But the Cubs are very, very good at Wrigley Field. They’ve won their last six home games, and eight of their last nine (granted, against the Marlins, White Sox and Rockies).
It won’t be easy as the Cubs again have to face two LH Reds starters, as they did last weekend. Nevertheless, as noted above, the Cubs won two of three in Cincinnati and they will do the same here.
Up next
The Cubs have Monday off, then head to Washington for a three-game series against the Nationals that begins Tuesday evening.