Reds at Cubs
Kyle Hendricks stymied Cincinnati hitters earlier this month and will look to shut them down again when the Chicago Cubs open a three-game series against the visiting Reds on Friday. The right-hander was sharp when he allowed one run and three hits over eight innings during a 3-1 triumph in Cincinnati on May 14.
Hendricks has won three straight decisions for the Cubs, who dropped the other two games in the recent series against the Reds. Chicago lost to the Philadelphia Phillies 9-7 on Thursday for a four-game split of that series while dropping back to 10 games over .500. Longtime Reds star Joey Votto (.208 average, four homers) has been unable to get on track but went deep against Hendricks in the May 14 game for his lone homer of the month while batting .162 in May. The Reds are 7-5 over their past dozen games but were outslugged 11-9 by the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, MLB Network; FS Ohio (Cincinnati), NBCS (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Anthony DeSclafani (2-2, 4.60 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Kyle Hendricks (4-4, 3.21)
DeSclafani has allowed four runs in four innings in each of his last two starts, including a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in his last turn as he served up three homers. The 29-year-old has pitched five or fewer innings in five of his nine starts but has 50 strikeouts in 45 innings. DeSclafani is 3-3 with a 3.86 ERA in nine career starts against the Cubs and has shut down Anthony Rizzo (4-for-24, one homer, six strikeouts) while struggling with Kris Bryant (5-for-15, one double).
Hendricks defeated the Washington Nationals in his last turn despite allowing four runs and six hits over 5 2/3 innings. The 29-year-old gave up one earned run and 12 hits over 25 innings in his previous three starts, including a four-hit shutout of the St. Louis Cardinals on May 3. Hendricks is 6-2 with a 3.23 ERA in 14 career starts against the Reds and has repeatedly had issues with Votto (9-for-21 with three homers and 11 walks).
WALK-OFFS
1. Bryant, who is batting .347 with eight homers and 19 RBIs in May, will return to the starting lineup Friday after being utilized as a pinch hitter Thursday.
2. Cincinnati RF Yasiel Puig (shoulder) is expected to return to the lineup after missing the previous two contests.
3. Rizzo is 10-for-21 with three homers and eight RBIs over the past five games.