Chicago Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds preview, Saturday 9/19, 5:40 CT

There's a chance of storms in the Cincinnati area this evening (forecast link below). Here's the area radar for you to keep handy.

LEADS, BLOWN CATEGORY: The Cubs let a 4-3 lead slip away last night. They have blown 67 leads this season, in 56 different games. They are 24-32 in those games and have lost three straight and 12 of 13 starting on Aug. 21. Before blowing their lead, the Cubs had erased two deficits, raising their season total to 70, in 62 different games. They have lost the last two, five of six and seven of nine starting Aug. 21. (Courtesy BCB's JohnW53)

POWER OUTAGE: On Aug. 31, the Cubs set a team record by hitting nine homers against the Brewers . They have hit a total of 16 in their 16 games since then. Last night's was the ninth game with one. They hit two twice and three once. They hit none in four games. (Courtesy BCB's JohnW53)

HAPP'S HOMER DIDN'T HELP: Ian Happ 's third-inning drive was the only homer by either team last night. The Cubs are 37-11 when they have hit more homers than they have allowed and 23-10 when they have not allowed a homer. (Courtesy BCB's JohnW53)

TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: Kerry Wood throws seven shutout innings, striking out nine, and Rondell White homers and drives in four to lead the Cubs to an 11-0 win over the Reds . It happened 25 years ago today, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2001 .

Matthew Boyd , LHP vs. Nick Lodolo , LHP

Matthew Boyd's ERA is a victim of the Cubs bullpen.

In each of his last three starts, relievers allowed two inherited runners left by Boyd to score. So his pitching has been better than the numbers show, in my view.

Boyd's only start against the Reds this year was July 12 in Cincinnati . He allowed four runs in 6.1 innings, two of which were on the traditional Eugenio Suárez homer off Cubs pitching. Keep Eugenio in the ballpark and good things should follow.

Nick Lodolo was the Reds' first-round pick (seventh overall) out of TCU in 2019, and was a Top 100 prospect two years in a row.

Injuries and ineffectiveness have hurt him and he's having the worst year of his career.

For him, that's bad. For Cubs hitters, maybe it's good. He did hold the Cubs to two runs in five innings July 11 in Cincinnati , then missed a few weeks with a blister issue. (Sound familiar?) Since his return last month he has a 6.09 ERA and 1.529 WHIP in seven starts, with 10 (!) home runs allowed in 34 innings.

Today's game is on Marquee Sports Network.

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