Cubs to face Reds’ No. 7 prospect in crucial NL Central series opener
The Chicago Cubs are off to a blazing start to the 2026 season. Sitting at 22-12 following a 10-game overall winning streak and a separate 11-game home winning streak, Chicago enters a crucial four-game series against the Cincinnati Reds beginning Monday, May 4, holding first place in what has quickly become one of baseball’s most competitive divisions.
With every National League Central team sitting above .500, the division has emerged as one of the strongest groups in baseball early this season. The Reds are the lone club without a positive run differential, largely because of losses over the weekend by margins of eight and 10 runs that skewed their numbers. Still, the depth of the division’s success is evident elsewhere, as the Reds have already posted two separate five-game winning streaks this season while the Milwaukee Brewers have gone 5-2 over their last seven games.
That said, the Chicago Cubs’ upcoming four-game series against the Cincinnati Reds carries added significance despite it still being early in the season. The matchup could help shape the tone for the rest of May, a month in which Chicago is scheduled to play 14 divisional games.
To open the series, the Cubs will be challenged by an unfamiliar power arm as they look to continue their winning streak at Wrigley Field. Cincinnati is expected to call up Chase Petty to make the start, giving Chicago its first look at one of the Reds’ hardest-throwing young pitchers.
Chase Petty will take the ball for the Cincinnati Reds on Monday against the Chicago Cubs
Originally selected in the first round of the 2021 MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins, Chase Petty was acquired by the Reds in the Sonny Gray trade in March of 2022. Petty made his MLB debut last season, appearing in three games spread across April, May, and June, but the transition proved difficult early on. The right-hander allowed nine earned runs in his debut and surrendered four more in his second outing.
That said, Petty is an electric arm who routinely works in the upper 90s and can reach triple digits with his fastball at times. His slider sits around 91 mph, while his changeup and sweeper both come in just below 90 mph, giving him a power-heavy arsenal across the board.
The Reds’ current No. 7 prospect still hasn’t fully put everything together, as command issues and walks have allowed hitters to capitalize on his fastball at times. Even so, the raw stuff is undeniable, and as an unfamiliar arm for the Chicago Cubs, he will present a challenging test in this matchup.
In a series with early-season division implications, how the Cubs handle an unfamiliar, high-octane arm like Petty could set the tone for the entire set. If Chicago can work deep counts and force him into the strike zone consistently, they’ll have a strong chance to extend their momentum and continue their push even further atop the division.
The post Cubs to face Reds’ No. 7 prospect in crucial NL Central series opener appeared first on ChiCitySports.
Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/cubs-to-face-reds-no-7-prospect-in-crucial-nl-central-series-opener/
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