In midst of wild-card battle, Reds send Nick Lodolo to mound vs. Cubs

Nick Lodolo has a tall task on his hands as he attempts to follow up Hunter Greene's masterpiece in the series opener.

Lodolo will make his best pitch to strengthen the Cincinnati Reds' postseason aspirations on Friday when he takes the mound at home against the playoff-bound Chicago Cubs in the second contest of their four-game series.

Greene carried a no-hit bid through 6 2/3 innings and settled for a one-hit shutout in Cincinnati's 1-0 victory in the series opener on Thursday. He retired the first 12 batters he faced and finished with nine strikeouts in front of an announced crowd of 18,532.

"Wish there were a little bit more fans in the stands, but for the fans that were here, I'm glad I was able to put on a show for them and we were able to get a win tonight," Greene said.

"We're just trying to handle our business. The more support that we can get, obviously the better. We're already motivated enough for us to go out there and win. I'm not saying we can only win if we have fans (show up) ... (But it's) something we strive for. and hopefully we can bring that back."

The Reds (77-76) have won three of their last four contests to remain two games back of the New York Mets (79-74) for the final wild-card spot in the National League. The Mets posted a 6-1 win over the San Diego Padres earlier on Thursday.

The Cubs (88-65), in turn, struggled to find their offense on the heels of clinching a postseason berth on Wednesday.

Seiya Suzuki ripped a double down the left field line with two outs in the seventh inning to break up Greene's no-hit bid. Suzuki has hit safely in seven of his last eight games.

Lodolo (8-8, 3.30 ERA) carries a five-outing winless stretch into Friday's contest. He allowed five runs on eight hits -- including three homers -- in 5 1/3 innings of a 7-4 setback to the Athletics on Sunday.

Lodolo has not recorded a decision in three starts (12 2/3 innings) against the Cubs this season. All told, he is 2-2 with a 4.28 ERA in eight career appearances (all starts) versus Chicago.

Fellow left-hander Shota Imanaga (9-7, 3.29) will get the start on Friday, and presumably he's dried out since enjoying a champagne shower after the Cubs clinched a postseason berth.

"I've learned that with champagne, instead of drinking it, you should absorb it with your skin," Imanaga said through a translator. "It feels better."

Jokes aside, it's been no laughing matter in terms of the home runs that Imanaga has allowed this season. He was taken deep twice in a no-decision against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday, boosting his total to 26 homers allowed on the campaign.

Imanaga also did not receive a decision in his last encounter with the Reds despite holding Cincinnati to one run on three hits in 6 1/3 innings on Aug. 5. He is 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA in two career appearances (both starts) versus Cincinnati.

Austin Hays collected two of the Reds' four hits in the series opener. He has five hits in his last three games.

--Field Level Media