Nick Lodolo left injured, Cincinnati Reds RALLY past Chicago Cubs LIVE MLB Postgame Show Chatterbox

00:00 LIVE in the 9th inning.

On August 4, 2025, the Cincinnati Reds (58-54, third in NL Central) face the Chicago Cubs (65-46, second in NL Central) at Wrigley Field, kicking off a crucial three-game series at 8:05 p.m. EDT. This matchup, the seventh meeting between the teams this season, sees the Cubs leading the season series 4-2. With both teams vying for playoff positioning, this game carries significant weight, as the Cubs aim to close the gap on division-leading Milwaukee, while the Reds fight for a wildcard spot.

Pitching Matchup: The Reds send left-hander Nick Lodolo (8-6, 3.09 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 123 strikeouts) to the mound. Lodolo has been a standout in 2025, with a career-high 22 starts and two complete games. Over his last four outings, he’s been dominant, walking just two while striking out 30. However, the Cubs’ lineup has historically challenged him, hitting .322 with a .533 slugging percentage in 105 plate appearances, though their strikeout rate against him is low at 21.9%. Chicago’s offense ranks sixth in OPS against lefties, which could test Lodolo’s control, especially given his tendency to lose the zone, averaging 91.3 pitches per start. The Cubs counter with Michael Soroka (3-8, 4.87 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 87 strikeouts), making his first start since being acquired by Chicago. Soroka, turning 28 today, showed promise in his last outing against the Reds on July 23, allowing one run over 5⅔ innings. However, his inconsistent 2025 season and transition to a new team could pose challenges, especially against a Reds offense that averages 1.0 home run per game.

Key Players: For the Reds, Elly De La Cruz (.280 AVG, 19 HR, 72 RBI) is a dynamic force, capable of game-changing hits or stolen bases. TJ Friedl, Matt McLain, and Austin Hays bolster a lineup that’s been inconsistent but potent when clicking. Chicago’s offense, led by Nico Hoerner (.295 AVG), Pete Crow-Armstrong (27 HR), and Seiya Suzuki (82 RBI), ranks third in MLB with 159 home runs. Kyle Tucker (.276 AVG, 18 HR) brings a hot bat, hitting .313 over his last five games. The Cubs’ home record (35-20) and power-hitting prowess give them an edge at Wrigley, though their 68 home homers rank 11th, compared to the Reds’ 115 total homers (eighth in NL).Team Trends: The Cubs have won three of their last four, including a walk-off against Baltimore, while the Reds have dropped four of six, struggling offensively on the road (25-28). Chicago’s moneyline favorite status (-136) reflects their 70.2% win rate when favored by at least this margin. The over/under is set at 7 runs, with the Cubs hitting the over in six of their last ten games.

Injuries: The Reds are without Hunter Greene (groin) and Jake Fraley (calf), among others, while the Cubs miss Justin Steele (elbow) and Javier Assad (oblique). Despite these absences, both teams have depth to compete.

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PODCAST LINKS:

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast…
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3jlFDPP…
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/733…
Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0…
iHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/109483256
Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/chatter…
Castbox: https://castbox.fm/channel/id5327101?…
Player FM: https://player.fm/series/3450767

Andrew Abbott, Julian Aguiar, Graham Ashcraft, Scott Barlow, Emilio Pagán, Fernando Cruz, Alexis Díaz, Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Nick Martinez, Tony Santillan, Carson Spiers, Brent Suter, Rhett Lowder, Brandon Williamson, Tyler Stephenson, José Trevino, Jeimer Candelario, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Matt McLain, Elly De La Cruz, Santiago Espinal, Jonathan India, Noelvi Marte, Edwin Ríos, Will Benson, TJ Friedl, Jake Fraley, Stuart Fairchild, Austin Hays, Spencer Steer, Jacob Hurtubise, Blake Dunn

Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Guardians, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, Washington Nationals

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