Cubs vs Reds — Before we jump into this next series against the Reds, here’s what you may have missed all morning that impacts this weekend’s set: Matt Shaw is back with the Cubs after two months away from the team with an injured wrist. Craig Counsell has tweaked his rotation to ensure that Shota Imanaga throws this weekend against the Reds instead of next weekend against the Brewers. And this is the Cubs 150th anniversary weekend. More details about the history and what is planned here.
As for this series against Cincinnati, the Cubs have some serious work to do. The seven games in ten days against the Brewers may provide a tiny glimmer of hope for the division, but the Cubs are already seven full games back in the NL Central. If the Cubs are going to pull off some sort of miracle march in September, they probably need to sweep this weekend before the Brewers come to town.
To that end … the matchups:
On Friday, David Peterson will look to continue what has so far been a really fruitful Cubs career. After the trade and one good start against the Brewers, Peterson had the one REALLY bad outing against St. Louis, but has a 2.20 ERA over 41.0 IP ever since. The groundballs have been out in full force, and it’s working very well for him in front of a good Cubs defense (even without Dansby Swanson). Peterson even struck out eight Mariners in his last outing. Just a pleasure to watch pitch of late. The Reds have hit Peterson well twice already this season, however, so keep that in mind. More on those games in the Pre-Gamin’ post later today.
Peterson will go up against Rhett Lowder, who has a 5.13 ERA over 23 outings (20 starts) this season. He’s appeared twice against the Cubs in 2026, both in short bursts, and has generally been bad overall. HOWEVER, he is on a solid-ish run lately, with a 3.86 ERA (but a 4.83 FIP) over his last six starts.
On Saturday, Kevin Gausman will take the mound following his best start in a Cubs uniform. He’ll square off against the lefty, Andrew Abbott, owner of a 4.15 ERA (4.53 FIP) on the year. The Cubs have faced Abbott twice this season. He got them the first time, but they chased him in the fourth inning of the second matchup with four earned runs on the board.
And on Sunday, Shota Imanaga will look to bounce back from a short, ugly-looking outing last weekend that forced Craig Counsell to pull the plug after just six outs. Imanaga faced the Reds earlier this year, striking out a season-high 10 batters over six innings of one-run ball. Wouldn’t that be nice to see again? Unfortunately, he’ll go up against the toughest matchup of the weekend, Chase Burns.
Burns, 23, is having a monster season, leaning heavily on his 98 mph heater and excellent slider to earn a 2.77 ERA over 25 starts. If the Cubs want to ensure a series win, they really REALLY need to take each of these first two games. Then, they can just hope for the best on Sunday. Maybe they can win a pitcher’s duel or something.
In the month of August, the Cubs offense has been led primarily by Pete Crow-Armstrong (9 HRs, 158 wRC+), Alex Bregman (8 HRs, 150 wRC+), and Seiya Suzuki (4 HRs, 142 wRC+). However, Ian Happ (5 HRs, 113 wRC+) and Michael Busch (3 HRs, 119 wRC+) have been contributing as well.
The Reds, by contrast, have only two players hitting above average in August: Eugenio Suarez (134 wRC+), who was put on waivers but went unclaimed, and Sal Stewart (110 wRC+). Everyone else has been below average by wRC+.
Overall, the Reds are much worse against righties (88 wRC+, last in MLB) than they are against lefties (100 wRC+, t-10th) this season. But they’ll face just one righty, Gausman, this weekend.
Cubs vs Reds — Matchups and Probables:
PITCHING PROBABLES Reds at Cubs · Three-game series · Wrigley Field, Chicago GAME 1 Fri, Aug 28 GAME 2 Sat, Aug 29 GAME 3 Sun, Aug 30 First Pitch Watch Listen 1:20 PM CT Marquee 670 The Score CUBS (76–58) David Peterson LHP · #19 7–7 ERA 5.17 K 103 VS REDS (63–71) Rhett Lowder RHP · #25 5–8 ERA 5.13 K 83 First Pitch Watch Listen 1:20 PM CT Marquee 670 The Score CUBS (76–58) Kevin Gausman RHP · #12 7–11 ERA 4.37 K 149 VS REDS (63–71) Andrew Abbott LHP · #41 6–9 ERA 4.15 K 114 First Pitch Watch Listen 6:20 PM CT NBC / Peacock 670 The Score CUBS (76–58) Shota Imanaga LHP · #18 8–9 ERA 3.78 K 144 VS REDS (63–71) Chase Burns RHP · #26 14–3 ERA 2.77 K 164 All times Central · Records entering Friday, Aug. 28 · Source: MLB.comCubs vs Reds — Key Injuries:
INJURY REPORT Cubs vs. Reds · entering Friday, Aug. 28 CHICAGO CUBS Dansby SwansonStrained oblique · 10-Day ILSS Hoby MilnerAppendectomy · 15-Day ILRP Gavin HollowellShoulder inflammation · 15-Day ILRP Edward CabreraBlister, right middle finger · 15-Day ILSP 60-DAY IL Justin SteeleElbow surgery (UCL revision repair)SP Cade HortonTommy John surgerySP Ben BrownStress reaction in neckSP Porter HodgeTommy John surgeryRP Shelby MillerTommy John surgeryRP Hunter HarveyTriceps inflammationRP Phil MatonKnee discomfortRP Riley MartinStrained elbow (flexor)RP Tyler AustinKnee surgery (patella debridement)1B/OF CINCINNATI REDS Spencer SteerSprained right wrist · 10-Day ILINF/OF Michael TogliaShoulder surgery (torn labrum) · 10-Day IL1B/OF 60-DAY IL Hunter GreeneTommy John surgerySP Brandon WilliamsonShoulder fatigueSP Graham AshcraftSprained elbowRP Blake DunnElbow surgeryOF Source: MLB.com injury tracker · Matt Shaw reinstated from the ILHence then, the article about cubs vs reds series preview gotta win this weekend with milwaukee looming on monday was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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