Reds could possibly be limited if Votto, Frazier are sidelined

The Chicago Cubs' likelihood of hosting the NL wild-card game could possibly be slim, however it's not out from the realm of possibility - in particular when their offense carries on produce want it did Wednesday.

Chicago seeks its fifth straight victory as well as a sweep on the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday at Great American Ball Park.

St. Louis clinched the NL Central having a victory inside nightcap of their doubleheader with Pittsburgh on Wednesday, locking Chicago (93-65) into next Wednesday's wild-card game up against the Pirates (96-63). Home-field advantage is to be determined, though Pittsburgh's magic number to clinch it truly is two. The game will be played at Wrigley Field within the event of an tie, as Chicago won the summer season series 11-8.

The Cubs close out with three road games against a Milwaukee team they've beaten nine of 10 x. The Pirates close out having a three-game home series against struggling Cincinnati (63-95), that's lost 11 consecutively for once since June 1998.

Chicago had 16 hits in Wednesday's 10-3 victory, including four from Starlin Castro, who hit his 11th great hit. Austin Jackson also recorded a career-high five RBIs while going 3 for 5.

"We've reached it going," manager Joe Maddon said. "Everyone is feeding off the other a little bit."

Jason Hammel (9-7, 3.86 ERA) may be shaky for Chicago about the stretch, posting a 6.39 ERA within his last eight starts. His struggles you can eat up innings go back to the first half, as he's completed less than six in 12 of 14 starts since July 8. He succeeded in 12 of 16 previously.

The right-hander gave the impression to take a advance last Saturday against Pittsburgh, cruising through four scoreless innings while yielding just two hits. He lost the fight five straight hits to spread out the fifth, including a three-run homer to Jordy Mercer, and was yanked without recording another in an eventual 4-0 loss.

"He was doing great," Maddon told MLB's official website. "He really made good pitches, his stuff was good and each of a sudden it happened quickly - a three-run homer."

Hammel also has failed to hang in there in recent meetings together with the Reds, completing five innings in every three matchups this season while posting a 4.20 ERA with no decision.
The Reds were limited by three sacrifice flies Wednesday, once they scored at the least three runs all on sacrifice flies since a 6-3 loss to San Diego on Aug. 6, 1997. They haven't lost 12 straight since Sept. 10-22, 1993.

"We know it's ugly right this moment, and yes it doesn't even seem like baseball," manager Bryan Price said. "There isn't satisfaction from playing this poorly. These guys need through this and acquire better."

Cincinnati could possibly be limited again if Joey Votto and Todd Frazier continue to be sidelined. Votto, who's reached base within a career-high 46 consecutive games, sat out as a result of shoulder stiffness, while Frazier was scratched due to stiffness within his lower right calf and Achilles tendon.

John Lamb (1-4, 5.40) can have had their best and worst starts of his rookie campaign his last two times out. The left-hander threw six-plus scoreless innings within a 2-1 loss at St. Louis on Sept. 21, then was shelled for five runs and a couple of homers in a very season-low two innings of the 10-2 loss on the New York Mets on Saturday.

Share this: