The Chicago Cubs Look To Get Back in the Race Against the Cincinnati Reds

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The Chicago Cubs Look To Get Back in the Race Against the Cincinnati Reds

The Chicago Cubs have been hurt all year but a good series against the Cincinnati Reds could give them the confidence they need to make a mid-season run.

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The path into the Cubs' trainer's room and onto their disabled list is well-worn. For a change, someone will actually go in the other direction on Monday. The Reds, too, hope to change directions.

Matt Garza, who had been out with a bone bruise in his right elbow, is set to come off the DL for his first start since May 17 against the Reds, whose freefall reached the .500 level with Sunday's loss to the Dodgers.

Since holding a half-game lead in the National League Central on May 18, the Reds have gone 5-12; on Monday, they turn to Mike Leake in hopes of beginning a turnaround.

The trainer's-room traffic turnaround began on Sunday for the Cubs, who welcomed Aramis Ramirez, sporting seven stitches in his upper lip, back into their lineup. Ramirez's souvenir came from being smoked by a batted ball on Wednesday.

But Ramirez couldn't be upbeat, even after going 2-for-4 and driving in both Chicago runs in the series finale in St. Louis. Not after Albert Pujols' daily walk-off homer sent the Cubs to their sixth consecutive loss.

Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker hopes Leake will be able to exceed the six innings he has averaged for his eight starts, so that a gassed Cincinnati bullpen might be rested.

In the past two games against Los Angeles, Reds relievers had to work 8 1/3 innings. In the wake of Saturday's extra-innings loss, in which the Cincinnati bullpen was jumped for nine runs and 10 hits in four innings, a quartet of relievers pitched heroically to keep the team in Sunday's game.

Chad Reineke, Monday's originally scheduled starter, joined Jeremy Horst, Jose Arredondo and Carlos Fisher to hold the Dodgers to one run across 4 1/3 innings after Travis Wood's brief start.

Leake was originally expected to start on Tuesday, but was moved up -- in part to allow Reineke to help out in the bullpen, but primarily to pave the way for Edinson Volquez's anticipated return from Triple-A.

The Cubs are starting to hit again. Darwin Barney got his average back near .300 (.296) by going 2-for-5 on Sunday, after a 3-for-23 (.130) lull in his previous five games.

Moving him up a day early could hurt the Reds as he will not be rested and ready to go. While on the other side of the fired Matt Garza will be excited to be making this start. The Cubs come out hitting and take game one from the Reds.

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