​Just before this preview posting, the Cubs announced that Phil Maton had been activated from the 15-day injured list. To make room on the 26-man active roster, Jake Woodford was designated for assignment, leaving an open spot on the 40-man roster.
Saturday notes show the Cubs’ pattern on Saturdays this season: they are 7-7, matching their total losses from last season when they finished 20-7 on Saturdays. They are 3-3 on the road on Saturdays, whereas last year they went 11-2 on Saturdays.
Getting shut out continues to be a recurring issue for the Cubs, with last night marking their ninth shutout of the year. They were blanked only 10 times all of last season, after being held scoreless 16 times in 2024. Across the previous five seasons, the team averaged 10.4 scoreless games per year, with eight in 2023, 12 in 2022, and 10 in 2021.
As for production with runners in scoring position, the Cubs finished last night 0-for-5, leaving them 3-20 in games with runners in scoring position. In contrast, in all other games they are 49-22. Through June 16 their season batting average with RISP stood at .217, but since then it has surged to .296, though in their last seven games it has slipped to .157 (8-for-51).
Today’s Cubs history note spotlights Ryne Sandberg, who hit a three-run homer to cap a four-run first inning, while Jaime Navarro delivered a five-hit complete game shutout in a 6-0 Cubs victory over the Cardinals at Wrigley Field. That performance happened 30 years ago today, on July 11, 1996.
Cubs lineup and Reds lineup notes include an interesting pitching context: Javier Assad has appeared in nine games since May 1 (four starts, five relief appearances) with a 2.41 ERA and a 0.911 WHIP, though he’s yielded seven home runs across 37.1 innings. His last outing, 4.2 scoreless innings against the Cardinals last Sunday at Wrigley Field, was solid. In his only appearance against the Reds this year, he worked 1.1 innings of scoreless relief on May 5 at Wrigley.
A notable trend: the Cubs are 6-1 in games started by Assad and 11-3 overall in the 14 games he’s pitched in, which is a cheerful stat for supporters despite other concerns.
Nick Lodolo’s season has been inconsistent due to a blister delay that postponed his first start until May 8. He was later hit on the wrist by a comebacker from Jackson Chourio on June 23, resulting in a contusion but no missed starts. In his two starts since that incident, he has totaled 11 innings, allowed one run, and struck out eight, while issuing six walks.
Lodolo last faced the Cubs on September 19, 2025, yielding nine hits and four runs over 4.2 innings, with home runs by Dansby Swanson and Matt Shaw contributing to the Cubs’ offense.
Today’s weather forecast at Great American Ball Park is included, with the game being broadcast on Marquee Sports Network. MLB.com’s live streaming page and the MLB Gameday, Baseball-Reference’s game preview, and SB Nation’s Reds site, Red Reporter, are all linked for additional context and interaction.
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