Chicago (75-56) enters Wednesday afternoon’s finale at the Confines with a 6 1/2-game lead over the San Francisco Giants for the second NL wild card spot, but still trailing the Pittsburgh Pirates by 4 1/2 for the top spot.
On what is forecasted to be a hot day at Wrigley, the Cubs send right-hander Jason Hammel to the hill in the rubber match, looking for a series win after dropping their last two – to the Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers, respectively.
Hammel (7-6, 3.42), who turns 33 on Wednesday, is making his third start of the season against the Reds, against whom he’s pitched to a 2.