Cubs at Reds (April 28-30, 2014)

I was in Cincinnati to attend the Monday game that was rained out (and will hopefully get back for the next series the Cubs have there right before the All-Star Break). With that rainout, two games for the Cubs have been postponed, with the first made-up in a day-night double-header the following day in New York. The Reds have been scuffling and underwhelming fans in Cincinnati for the first month of the season, but are starting to heat up a little. Getting back the back-end of their bullpen will certainly help them, with Sean Marshall returning against the Cubs in Wrigley and Aroldis Chapman starting to prep for his return. They still have a dangerous lineup (and will as long as Brandon Phillips and Joey Votto remain) that will only get better as Billy Hamilton transitions into leading off in the Major Leagues. In Cubs news, Carlos Villanueva will finally be transitioned to the bullpen. Jake Arrieta will start in his spot against the Cardinals (changed after the rainout) on Saturday at Wrigley Field. I don’t even care what the result of that game is, because anything is better than what Villanueva has done so far this season as a starter. Hopefully, Arrieta can put together similar success to what Scott Feldman and Jason Hammel have done as Cubs in recent years.