Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois | First pitch: 2:20 p.m. ET
TV: Marquee Sports Network / Reds.TV
The Reds visit Wrigley for the middle game of a three-game set after a 10-8 comeback win on Friday (four home runs, nine unanswered runs). The Cubs enter on a three-game skid but hold the second wild-card position in the NL (second in the NL Central, 8 GB of Milwaukee).
Starting Pitchers
Reds: LHP Andrew Abbott (6-9, 4.15 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 114 K in 145.1 IP)
Recent form: Last three starts mixed (6 IP/4 ER at ARI; 6.1 IP/2 ER vs STL; 4.1 IP/5 ER at CHW). Career vs. Cubs hitters has been strong overall (.182 AVG allowed in limited sample), with notable success against Pete Crow-Armstrong (0-for-13) and struggles against Michael Busch (.571).
Cubs: RHP Kevin Gausman (7-11, 4.37 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 149 K in 150.1 IP)
Recent form: Strong latest outing (7 scoreless IP, 3 H, 6 K at ARI on Aug. 24). Split-finger remains a high-whiff weapon. Limited recent history vs. current Reds; career numbers against the group show some vulnerability (e.g., higher OPS allowed to certain hitters like Eugenio Suárez).
Projected/Probable Lineups
Reds
Héctor Rodríguez (L) RF
Elly De La Cruz (S) SS
Sal Stewart (R) 1B
JJ Bleday (L) LF
Tyler Stephenson (R) DH
Eugenio Suárez (R) 3B
José Trevino (R) C
TJ Friedl (L) CF
Matt McLain (R) 2B
Cubs
Pete Crow-Armstrong (L) CF
Seiya Suzuki (R) DH
Alex Bregman (R) 3B
Michael Busch (L) 1B
Nico Hoerner (R) SS
Matt Shaw (R) RF
Tyrone Taylor (R) LF
Pedro Ramírez (S) 2B
Carson Kelly (R) C
(Lineups subject to final confirmation; Dane Myers sat Saturday after Friday’s 0-for-5.)
Injury Reports
Reds
Ke’Bryan Hayes (3B, groin) – 10-day IL (expected mid-September)
Spencer Steer (1B, wrist) – 10-day IL
Brady Singer (SP, ribs) – day-to-day / expected late August
Graham Ashcraft (RP), Brandon Williamson (SP), Hunter Greene (SP, Tommy John) – longer-term IL
Cubs
Dansby Swanson (SS, side/oblique) – 10-day IL
Edward Cabrera (SP, blister), Gavin Hollowell (RP, shoulder) – 15-day IL
Longer-term: Hunter Harvey, Shelby Miller, others on 60-day IL
Both clubs are missing key pieces, with the Reds particularly thin on the infield and the Cubs without their regular shortstop.
Weather Forecast (Wrigley Field)
Overcast to mostly cloudy, high around 75–80°F. Wind ~7–10 mph SSW (out toward center/right in some models). Precipitation chance near 0% at first pitch; slight chance of sprinkles later. Comfortable late-summer conditions favoring hitters slightly if the wind holds.
Recent Team Form
Reds: 4-6 last 10, but hot offensively of late (10 runs in each of the last two games). Away record 32-35. Strong in one-run games.
Cubs: 4-6 last 10, L3 streak. Home record 38-28. Strong when hitting multiple homers (37-13). Bullpen has shown recent fragility.
Series History (2026)
Cubs lead the season series 6-2 entering Saturday (after Friday’s Reds win). Cubs swept a four-game set at Wrigley in early May; Reds took one of three at home in July. Remaining: Sunday at Wrigley + three more in Cincinnati in September.
baseball-reference.com
Key Player Matchups / Storylines
Abbott vs. Crow-Armstrong / Busch: Abbott has blanked PCA extensively; Busch has squared him up.
Gausman vs. De La Cruz / Stewart / Suárez: Reds’ power bats (Stewart 29 HR, De La Cruz dynamic) vs. Gausman’s splitter and four-seamer. Reds lineup has high strikeout totals overall.
Elly De La Cruz (3 hits Friday) and Sal Stewart (multi-hit, HR recently) are keys for Cincinnati’s offense.
Pete Crow-Armstrong (33 HR, elite OPS) and Seiya Suzuki lead a Cubs attack that ranks near the top in runs and OPS.
Bullpen contrast: Cubs’ recent high-leverage issues vs. Reds’ ability to close (Emilio Pagán save Friday).
Betting Trends
Season series and home/road splits favor Cubs, but Reds’ recent power surge and Friday’s result create underdog value chatter. Overs have hit in several recent meetings.
GAME ODDS
Cincinnati Reds 9
Chicago Cubs – 205
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, August 28, 2026
