Cincinnati at Chicago

Cincinnati starts a brutal road trip with little pitching. The Reds rank #17 in baseball on offense in runs scored and #27 in team ERA (4.88). The Reds have allowed 239 home runs, tied with the 2001 Colorado Rockies for the most in National League history, and two off the 1996 Detroit Tigers' infamous major-league record. The Reds are 32-67 against a winning team. Cincinnati starter Tim Adleman (2-4, 4.21 ERA) is winless on the road where batters are hitting .313 off him. They face a powerhouse Chicago Cubs team that is tops in team ERA (3.12) and third in baseball in runs scored. Chicago starter Jason Hammel (14-9, 3.60 ERA) is 9-1 with a 1.77 ERA in 13 home starts. He is also 3-1 with a 3.52 ERA in 11 games (10 starts) against Cincinnati, including 12 scoreless innings this season. The Cubs are on a 77-33 run at home, are 29-9 against a right-handed starter, and the Reds are 9-26 in the last 35 meetings. Play the Cubs.