Cubs Aim to Close the First Half Strong in Cincinnati
The Chicago Cubs head to Great American Ball Park for a three-game set vs the Cincinnati Reds, aiming to finish the first half strong while Cincinnati fights to salvage a rough season. The Reds are last in the NL Central and under .500, but hit left-handed pitching better than right-handed pitching; the Cubs counter with two lefties in Imanaga and Boyd. The pitching matchups are Imanaga vs Greene (Fri), Assad vs Lodolo (Sat), and Boyd vs Abbott (Sun). Offense is led by PCA, Suzuki, and Swanson for the Cubs, while Happ has struggled vs lefties; injuries on both sides add to the storyline, including Justin Steele on the Cubs’ 60-day IL. The takeaway: early in the series leans Reds, later edges toward Cubs, with a toss-up overall as the teams try to close the half on a high note.
