Cubs at Reds
Trying to figure out a way to reverse their woes on the road, the Chicago Cubs tried a new approach in the opener of their 10-game home trip -- hanging home uniforms in the locker of each player. The Cubs look to post back-to-back road wins for the first time in more than a month in the second of a four-game set at the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night.
New additions continue to provide a spark for Chicago as Nicholas Castellanos homered twice in Thursday's 12-5 romp and has hit safely in all eight games since he was acquired at the trade deadline. Ian Happ homered and collected four RBIs for the second time in as many days while Jonathan Lucroy had three hits and two RBIs in his Cubs debut. While Chicago has won six of seven to open a 3 1/2-game lead atop the National League Central, the Reds had their three-game winning streak snapped to fall eight games behind the Cubs and remain in eighth place in the race for the two wild cards. Rookie Aristides Aquino homered for the second straight game and has eight RBIs while hitting safely in five contests in a row.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Yu Darvish (4-5, 4.36 ERA) vs. Reds RH Trevor Bauer (9-8, 3.85)
Darvish permitted two runs or fewer for the fourth time in five starts by limiting Milwaukee to one run and five hits to earn the win on Sunday. He has struck out 38 and walked only two batters over 29 innings spanning the last five starts and will take an unbeaten record against Cincinnati into Friday's start. Darvish improved to 3-0 against the Reds after tossing six scoreless innings of two-run ball on July 17, but he must be wary of Derek Dietrich (4-for-10, two homers).
A surprise acquisition by the Reds at the trade deadline, Bauer struggled in his debut and did not factor in the decision after giving up three runs and seven hits over 4 2/3 innings. He was hammered in his last start with Cleveland, allowing eight runs in 4 1/3 innings, but will face a favorable opponent for his Cincinnati home debut. Bauer has won all three career starts against the Cubs, yielding only one run and 15 hits over 19 2/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Castellanos is the third player since 1920 with nine extra-base hits in his first eight games following a midseason trade.
2. Reds LF Phillip Ervin collected four hits Thursday to improve to 11-for-19 against Chicago this season.
3. Cubs SS Javier Baez is 13-for-29 with 10 RBIs during a seven-game hitting streak.