The Cincinnati Reds entered their four-game series against the Chicago Cubs already knowing that they would be without right-handed starter Hunter Greene, but now they’re going to be even more shorthanded. After losing game one of Friday’s double header, the Reds will now be without a few more pitchers, including one of their best relievers in Fernando Cruz.
So, for the Cubs, who beat the Reds 6-2 earlier on Friday and inched closer to the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central standings, a COVID outbreak may give them a bigger advantage against Cincinnati this weekend. Cruz, along with Ben Lively have joined Greene on the COVID injured list.
Greene, who last pitched against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, had already been placed on the COVID IL prior to the start of this weekend’s series against the Cubs. Earlier this season, Greene pitched six no-hit innings against the Cubs, striking out 11 hitters at Wrigley Field on May 26. However, because he did pitch Wednesday, Greene would not have been scheduled to pitch against the Cubs this weekend regardless of his health status.
Lively, who last pitched on Aug. 26, against the Arizona Diamondbacks, could have been an option to start Friday night against the Cubs. Although, maybe the Cubs would have preferred to hit against Lively, as they crushed the righty at Wrigley Field on Aug. 1, when he gave up 13 runs in four innings.
Starting in Lively’s place is 23-year-old Lyon Richardson. The inexperienced righty made his MLB debut this year with the Reds and in two starts, Richardson has given up 7 earned runs in 7.1 innings. So, maybe the Cubs will still have a good night at the plate.
Meanwhile, Cruz won’t be around to come in out of the bullpen and although the Cubs have hit him the last couple times, the right-handed pitcher has been pretty good for the Reds this season. Dating back to the start of June, Cruz has posted a 2.77 ERA, striking out 57 batters in 39 innings.
We’ll see if there is any other fallout from this COVID outbreak in the Reds clubhouse. The Cubs are four games ahead of the Reds in the standings heading into game two of Friday’s double header in Cincinnati.
