Lester was the opening day starter but has been supplanted as the Cubs’ No. 1 pitcher by Arrieta, a 21-game victor who is set to pitch in the team’s wild-card game next Wednesday. The Cubs still have a chance of catching the Pirates and hosting the one game playoff, and they’ll have their chance against the bottom of the Central starting with the last place Cincinnati Reds. The Reds have lost four of their six home games against the Cubs this season. They have got a bad combination: An all-rookie rotation and an offense in a deep slump. “You need that kind of presence, particularly in your pitching staff, to get to this kind of moment”, Maddon said.
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Haren (10-9) made his 10th start for the Cubs, who acquired him in a trade with Miami on July 31.
Miguel Montero went 2-for-3 with a two-run double and a run scored in Tuesday’s win over the Reds. He allowed a season-high seven runs (five earned) on nine hits over 6 1/3 innings in a 12-5 loss to the Mets on Friday. The right-hander had five 1-2-3 innings and allowed just three hits. When Maddon walked into the dugout before the game on Tuesday, he looked up at the rain and said, “Get out!”
Rain held up the first pitch for 2 hours, 31 minutes. He had great carry on the ball tonight. He has no record and a 4.74 ERA in three career matchups, all this season, but the Cubs have won each game. “It’s raining in Cincinnati?” When healthy, the catcher has been able to contribute in his first year on Chicago’s north side, hitting.248 with a.760 OPS, 15 homers and 53 RBI in 111 games. September.
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Lester gave up one run in seven innings in his most recent start against Cincinnati (63-94) but Chicago needed 11 innings for a 2-1 victory.
